Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin

(117,091 posts)
Sat Jan 11, 2025, 02:58 PM Yesterday

Yes, Some LA Fire Hydrants Ran Out of Water. That's Not the Whole Story, Though

Fire hydrants in Los Angeles ran out of water while firefighters were battling the January 2025 wildfires.
Rating:

True

Context
Los Angeles officials said on Jan. 8 that some fire hydrants in the Pacific Palisades area lost water supply due to high demand on the system from the Palisades fire. Water remained available to firefighters in this area by other means. Fire hydrants do not generally have the capacity to be used in large-scale firefighting, officials also said.

-snip-

Los Angeles officials addressed the claim during news conferences on Jan. 8. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) CEO Janisse Quiñones told reporters that 20% of fire hydrants in the Pacific Palisades area — around 200 out of 1,000 — lost water supply due to "tremendous" pressure on the system during firefighting efforts for the Palisades fire. Water remained available in the Pacific Palisades area, Bass said. Therefore, we rate this claim as true with the caveat that only a small number of fire hydrants were affected.

The LADWP said in an email on Jan. 9: "There is no lack of water flowing through our pipes or flowing to the Palisades area. Water remains available in Palisades, but is limited in areas at elevation, impacting fire hydrants."

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/palisades-fire-hydrants-ran-out-of-water/

24 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Yes, Some LA Fire Hydrants Ran Out of Water. That's Not the Whole Story, Though (Original Post) Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Yesterday OP
Sadly this is already ingrained in the story. Conservatives are blaming smelt fish too underpants Yesterday #1
Anyone with a working brain can see through both arguments Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Yesterday #2
Yes but they had it drilled into their heads all day. underpants Yesterday #4
So was eating cats I ead.. . that's what Cons Do. Cha 14 hrs ago #15
20% of hydrants were dry. That is a huge issue that shouldn't be signed off as political Melon Yesterday #3
I think the point is the timing Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Yesterday #5
And hannah Yesterday #11
Mump Needs to Get Exponentially Loaded Cha 14 hrs ago #16
Can you show proof canetoad Yesterday #6
I feel like you just bombed in to add your wisdom Melon 15 hrs ago #13
..... Skittles Yesterday #7
If the fire was normal it would have been ok 20 % down nini 14 hrs ago #14
20% hydrants down is never ok. This is a huge failure Melon 13 hrs ago #18
I saw a fire chief say that the sprinklers installed on some of these homes burned up and the water was just flowing kimbutgar Yesterday #8
the way i traided to explain it to someone..... Takket Yesterday #9
The way Katy Tur was grilling Newsom, it's all his fault. Emile Yesterday #10
TY .. That sounds expected. Did Gov Newsom handle it? Cha 14 hrs ago #17
He did, but boy oh boy did she ever kept at him. But the water pressure blah blah blah. Emile 11 hrs ago #20
I never liked her Meowmee 11 hrs ago #21
She is just another MSNBC Donald Trump apologist. Emile 1 hr ago #24
I live in the very last house at the edge of town. Midnight Writer Yesterday #12
What an excellent point! TY! arthritisR_US 12 hrs ago #19
Exactly and the higher elevation the less pressure too. Emile 10 hrs ago #22
Moving water uphill is very expensive. Hugin 10 hrs ago #23

underpants

(187,686 posts)
1. Sadly this is already ingrained in the story. Conservatives are blaming smelt fish too
Sat Jan 11, 2025, 03:06 PM
Yesterday

It was all the rage in talk radio a few days ago. Every show.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/conservatives-play-blame-game-california-wildfires-pointing-fingers-de-rcna186983

Lazy media will never fill in this part of it. I don’t know that about hydrants.

Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin

(117,091 posts)
2. Anyone with a working brain can see through both arguments
Sat Jan 11, 2025, 03:12 PM
Yesterday

Unfortunate too many people don't.

Cha

(306,113 posts)
15. So was eating cats I ead.. . that's what Cons Do.
Sun Jan 12, 2025, 02:22 AM
14 hrs ago
The M$$M Deliberately Ignores Reality.

Melon

(175 posts)
3. 20% of hydrants were dry. That is a huge issue that shouldn't be signed off as political
Sat Jan 11, 2025, 03:17 PM
Yesterday

Glossing over issues isn’t a fix. 20%. It’s made a difference in saving homes and neighborhoods. Why is this political?

Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin

(117,091 posts)
5. I think the point is the timing
Sat Jan 11, 2025, 03:23 PM
Yesterday

Let's get the fires put out then deal with the hydrants. Trump is using this as an excuse to not help.

hannah

(172 posts)
11. And
Sat Jan 11, 2025, 03:34 PM
Yesterday

Some people want to blame Democrats. What’s true today ATF joined the FBi to investigate what is happening.But
Anyone can spread propaganda. For instance I can say, MAGA started the fires for their first 100 days of shock and awe.


canetoad

(18,383 posts)
6. Can you show proof
Sat Jan 11, 2025, 03:26 PM
Yesterday

Of the claim that 20% of hydrants were dry?

This is political because RW liars have made it so.

Melon

(175 posts)
13. I feel like you just bombed in to add your wisdom
Sun Jan 12, 2025, 01:55 AM
15 hrs ago

and never read the article this thread was based on. It’s true. This comes from our side. This should be heavily looked into and people should absolutely lose their jobs.

“Los Angeles officials addressed the claim during news conferences on Jan. 8. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) CEO Janisse Quiñones told reporters that 20% of fire hydrants in the Pacific Palisades area — around 200 out of 1,000….”

nini

(16,767 posts)
14. If the fire was normal it would have been ok 20 % down
Sun Jan 12, 2025, 02:02 AM
14 hrs ago

The way that fire was spreading by winds and embers flying it wouldn’t have mattered how many there were to try and stop it under those conditions.

The winds were insane around here and we’re not normal winds. Deadly winds is an understatement.

Melon

(175 posts)
18. 20% hydrants down is never ok. This is a huge failure
Sun Jan 12, 2025, 03:09 AM
13 hrs ago

In no industry is a 20% failure rate ok. That’s crazy to think that’s it’s ok and trying to push a bad narrative. Maybe 1%…not 20%. The fireman were on station in many areas and could not put out small fires that became large without water. It did make a difference.

kimbutgar

(23,777 posts)
8. I saw a fire chief say that the sprinklers installed on some of these homes burned up and the water was just flowing
Sat Jan 11, 2025, 03:27 PM
Yesterday

Freely affecting water pressure all over the area.

Takket

(22,699 posts)
9. the way i traided to explain it to someone.....
Sat Jan 11, 2025, 03:29 PM
Yesterday

we're all used to water coming out of our taps... but imagine what would happen if everyone on the system all turned on every faucet in their house full blast at the same time... not enough water pressure is available for that scenario.

Emile

(31,291 posts)
20. He did, but boy oh boy did she ever kept at him. But the water pressure blah blah blah.
Sun Jan 12, 2025, 05:26 AM
11 hrs ago

Emile

(31,291 posts)
24. She is just another MSNBC Donald Trump apologist.
Sun Jan 12, 2025, 03:54 PM
1 hr ago

I wonder if she went with Joe and Mika to Mar-a-Lago . . .

Midnight Writer

(23,221 posts)
12. I live in the very last house at the edge of town.
Sat Jan 11, 2025, 03:48 PM
Yesterday

Every weekday afternoon around 4 PM my internet slows to a crawl.

Seems that when the kids get home from school and the parents get home from work, they all go online.

Since my house is at the end of the line, the heavy traffic means my internet slows to a trickle.

I reckon something similar happens to water lines.

Hugin

(34,929 posts)
23. Moving water uphill is very expensive.
Sun Jan 12, 2025, 06:46 AM
10 hrs ago

Refresh rates are always a fraction of potential peak discharge rates. Everywhere.

That’s why there’s tanks up there.

This is true of any utility. Electric and gas also have short peak surges built into their systems.

It’s math and physics. I wouldn’t expect loudmouth Retrumplicans to understand.

If anyone is still reading this post, let me know.

Sure, the system could be designed for the peak refresh rate to match discharge. If the water is available, but it’s the middle of an 8 month global warming induced drought. That’s a different topic.

Building systems that way is extremely inefficient and expensive. (I suppose Eloon would know all about it. ) The additional equipment would sit there unused 99.999 to 100% of the time and would have to be maintained and tested pending a black swan scenario. Have I mentioned expensive?

All of that money for these contingency systems would have to come from bonds or taxes, because no investor in their right mind is going to lay down cash to support a system like that. There’s no ROI.

I am willing to bet a simple Internet search (You wouldn’t even need to use AI. ) would yield decades of Retrumplicans whining about paying taxes, which would ultimately be used for things even more critical than this. Such as child care, Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.

Oh, wait! There’s an incoming administration which has dedicated itself to slashing taxes. So, no search is needed.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Yes, Some LA Fire Hydrant...