First responders are working hard to combat the devastating effects Wildfires in Los Angeleswhile many citizens wonder what could have caused the fires and whether policy errors had hampered firefighting efforts. Kathryn Sorensen, who led water and wastewater utilities for two major Arizona cities, says there are important facts about our water system that we need to understand.
“Municipal water systems are really not designed to fight large-scale wildfires,” Sorensen told Fox News. “They are designed with sufficient storage space to meet the requirements under normal operating conditions and to combat a number of relatively localized structure fires of relatively short duration.”
Sorensen acknowledged that valid discussions can be had about the capacity of our current water systems and how they are used.
“As we look to a hotter, drier future, we probably need to look at these reservoirs, at their capabilities, at their operational priorities, at how we move that water and for what purpose, and rethink that.”
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The sun rises over homes destroyed by the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles on Thursday, January 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
The Santa Ynez Reservoir, located near the Palisades Fire, was found to be vacant since February 2024 and has become the focus of a lawsuit against the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP). The lawsuit accuses LADWP of delaying repairs to the reservoir to cut costs, according to a Reuters report.
In a statement, LADWP said it closed the reservoir to “comply with safe drinking water regulations” and blamed the repair delays on the city’s “competitive bidding process, which takes time.” In addition, the agency said it would conduct its own investigation.
“LADWP built the Pacific Palisades water system going above and beyond requirements to meet the typical needs of the community,” LADWP wrote in a statement. “As we face the impacts of climate change and build climate resilience, we welcome a review and update of these codes and requirements if urban water systems are to be used to combat climate change. extreme forest fires.”
Burned buildings lie in ruins in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood as smoke from the Palisades Fire rises in the background on January 10, 2025 in Los Angeles. (REUTERS/Mike Blake)
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When discussing the large reservoir at the center of the controversy, Sorensen expressed doubts that “even if it had been filled, it is unlikely that the tide would have been turned.” She also believes that “the magnitude of the wildfire would likely overwhelm the system even with a full Santa Ynez Reservoir.
“Now it’s possible – I don’t know if we have all the facts yet – it’s possible that if the Santa Ynez Reservoir had been full, it could have put additional water pressure in these pressure zones on the hills and made a difference to a or more buildings, homes or businesses,” Sorensen said.
While this could have made a difference on an individual level, Sorensen said it likely wouldn’t have made a difference to “an entire neighborhood.”
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An aerial view of beachfront homes destroyed during the Palisades Fire along the Pacific Coast Highway as wildfires cause damage and loss throughout the LA region on January 16, 2025 in Malibu, California. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)
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On Friday morning, Cal Fire reported that more than 40,600 hectares had been burned and more than 12,300 structures had been destroyed by the fires. At least 27 people have been confirmed to have died in the fire, although that number could rise as dozens are still missing.
