Critical California water supply allowed to run dry before LA fires: lawsuit
More than a dozen victims of the Pacific Palisades Fire are suing the Los Angeles Public Utility Company for “malpractice” that contributed to the blaze’s destruction.
A lawsuit filed last week on behalf of community residents and a pizzeria owner accuses the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power of being unprepared for the Palisades Fire and allowing a critical water supply to run dry before the blaze. The worst natural disaster in the history of the city of Los Angeles,” according to court documents obtained by Fox News Digital.
“The water supply system serving Pacific Palisades suffered a catastrophic failure, leaving residents and firefighters with little water to fight the blaze,” attorney Roger Behle, who survived the Palisades fire and whose own family lost their home in the 2020 wildfires, said in a statement.
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The Santa Ynez Reservoir, which serves the Pacific Palisades and Brentwood areas, is seen here with a cover to prevent evaporation, as seen above on September 28, 2022. (Hayley Smith/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
“The Santa Ynez Reservoir, a 117 million gallon reservoir that is part of the Los Angeles water supply system, was empty and had been empty for almost a year,” continued Behl.
The suit alleges that the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power was taken out of commission in February 2024 and that the debris, bird droppings, and other materials were collected by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power after the floating cover tear. Enter the water supply.
At the time of the Palisades fire, necessary maintenance work had not been completed, and the cistern remained empty, leaving firefighters with “little to no water” to fight the blaze, the lawsuit continued.
“LADWP decided not to repair the Santa Ynez Reservoir cover in time, leaving the reservoir unusable, all as a ‘cost-saving’ measure,” the attorneys argued.
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A helicopter drops water on the Palisades Fire in Mandeville Canyon on Saturday, January 11, 2025 in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
According to the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, the public’s intention to empty the reservoir and leave it empty was to “seek contractor bids instead of using in-house labor” to repair the reservoir.
“The extent of the damage caused by the Palisades Fire far outweighs any benefit that could be gained by outsourcing and delaying maintenance of the Santa Ynez Reservoir,” the fire survivor’s attorneys argued.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Jan. 10 ordered an independent investigation of LADWP, calling the loss of water pressure and the intentional closing of the reservoir “very serious,” according to court records.
Newsom added that the loss of water pressure “may have impaired” the ability of firefighters to protect homes and evacuation zones in Pacific Palisades.
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Flames and smoke billow from buildings as the Palisades Fire burns during a wind storm on the West Side in Los Angeles, California, US, January 8, 2025. (Reuters/Ringo Chiu)
“There were challenges with water pressure while fighting the Pacific Palisades fire,” Los Angeles Fire Department Capt. Eric Scott said, “and the water pressure wasn’t what we wanted,” documents state.
Attorneys continue to argue that despite high warnings from the National Weather Service for “dangerous fire weather” for “rapid fire spread and extreme fire behavior,” LADWP was unprepared for the Palisades fire.
“LADWP had a duty to properly construct, inspect, maintain and operate the water supply system. LADWP breached these duties,” the lawsuit states.
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Firefighters battle the Palisades Fire in Mandeville Canyon, Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Pacific Palisades residents are suing the utility for property damage and personal injuries.
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“The Palisades fire has been a devastating event for its victims, who through no fault of their own went from homeownership to homelessness within hours,” the lawyers wrote. They destroyed homes and businesses.
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and Newsom’s office did not immediately respond for comment.
