General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsYes, 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/
underpants
(187,686 posts)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 dont know that about hydrants.
Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin
(117,091 posts)Unfortunate too many people don't.
underpants
(187,686 posts)Thats how they do it.
Cha
(306,113 posts)Melon
(175 posts)Glossing over issues isnt a fix. 20%. Its made a difference in saving homes and neighborhoods. Why is this political?
Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin
(117,091 posts)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)Some people want to blame Democrats. Whats 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.
Cha
(306,113 posts)Karma for this... Right back in his Assface.
canetoad
(18,383 posts)Of the claim that 20% of hydrants were dry?
This is political because RW liars have made it so.
Melon
(175 posts)and never read the article this thread was based on. Its 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)The way that fire was spreading by winds and embers flying it wouldnt have mattered how many there were to try and stop it under those conditions.
The winds were insane around here and were not normal winds. Deadly winds is an understatement.
Melon
(175 posts)In no industry is a 20% failure rate ok. Thats crazy to think thats its 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)Freely affecting water pressure all over the area.
Takket
(22,699 posts)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)Cha
(306,113 posts)Emile
(31,291 posts)Meowmee
(6,444 posts)She is a fake.
Emile
(31,291 posts)I wonder if she went with Joe and Mika to Mar-a-Lago . . .
Midnight Writer
(23,221 posts)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.
arthritisR_US
(7,699 posts)Emile
(31,291 posts)Hugin
(34,929 posts)Refresh rates are always a fraction of potential peak discharge rates. Everywhere.
Thats why theres tanks up there.
This is true of any utility. Electric and gas also have short peak surges built into their systems.
Its math and physics. I wouldnt 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 its the middle of an 8 month global warming induced drought. Thats 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. Theres no ROI.
I am willing to bet a simple Internet search (You wouldnt 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! Theres an incoming administration which has dedicated itself to slashing taxes. So, no search is needed.