Key California Water Sources Dry Up Months Before Los Angeles Wildfires: Lawsuit

Over a dozen victims Pacific Palisades fire are suing a Los Angeles utility company for “failures” they claim contributed to the fire’s destruction.

A lawsuit filed last week on behalf of borough residents and a pizzeria owner accused the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power of failing to prepare for the Palisades Fire and allowing crucial water supplies to dry up before an inferno that attorneys said was “the worst natural disaster in the history of the city of Los Angeles.” according to court documents obtained by Fox News Digital.

“The water system serving Pacific Palisades failed tragically, leaving residents and firefighters with little or no water to extinguish the flames,” Roger Behle, an attorney representing one of the Palisades fire survivors whose family lost their home in the 2020 blaze. – wrote in the statement.

CALIFORNIA POLICE ARREST TWO IN PALISADES FIRE EVACUATION ZONE AFTER ‘DRIVING’ BEHAVIOR

Santa Ynez Reservoir seen from above, September 28, 2022. The reservoir serving the Pacific Palisades and Brentwood areas is seen here with a cover to prevent evaporation. (Hayley Smith/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

“Santa Ynez ReservoirThe 117-million-gallon water storage complex, part of the Los Angeles water system, was empty and sat empty for almost a year,” Behle continued.

The lawsuit alleged that the Santa Ynez Reservoir was decommissioned in February 2024 by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and drained due to “water quality concerns” after a tear in the floating cover allowed debris to enter it, bird droppings and other items. enter the water supply.

By the time the Palisades Fire broke out, required remedial work had not been completed and the tank remained empty, leaving fire crews with “little water” to fight the flames, the lawsuit continues.

“LADWP made a conscious decision not to timely repair the cover of the Santa Ynez Reservoir, leaving the reservoir drained and unusable, all in an effort to ‘save costs,’” the attorneys argue.

WILDFIRES IN CALIFORNIA: SUSPECT ARRESTED IN CONNECTION WITH MAN FIRE QUICKLY EXTENDED BY FIREFIGHTERS

On Saturday, January 11, 2025, in Los Angeles, a helicopter dropped water onto the Palisades Fire in Mandeville Canyon. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

According to the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, the lawsuit states that the public’s purpose in draining the reservoir and leaving it empty was to “seek bids from contractors rather than employ its own personnel” to repair the reservoir.

“The degree of damage caused by the Palisades Fire far outweighed any benefits that could have been achieved by outsourcing and delaying repairs to the Santa Ynez Reservoir,” argue lawyers representing fire survivors.

California Governor Gavin Newsom ordered independent investigation from LADWP records on Jan. 10 regarding the loss of water pressure and intentional closure of the reservoir, calling it “deeply disturbing,” according to court records.

Newsom added that the loss of water pressure “likely impaired” the ability of firefighters to protect homes and evacuation zones in Pacific Palisades.

LOS ANGELES FIRES RESUME ‘ECO-TERROR’ MUNCHES AFTER FAKE FIREFIGHTERS ARRESTED

Flames and smoke rise from structures as the Palisades Fire burns during a windstorm in West Los Angeles, California, January 8, 2025. (REUTERS/Ringo Chiu)

Los Angeles Fire Department Capt. Erik Scott said there were “water pressure difficulties while extinguishing the Pacific Palisades fire” and “the water pressure was not what we needed,” the document said.

The attorneys further argue that despite “serious warnings” issued by the National Weather Service about “critical fire weather” that could cause “rapid fire spread and extreme fire behavior,” LADWP was unprepared for the Palisades Fire.

“LADWP had an obligation to properly construct, inspect, maintain and operate its water supply system. LADWP has breached these obligations,” the lawsuit alleges.

A COUPLE WITH A FAKE FIRE TRUCK ARRESTED FOR IMMEDIATING FIRE FIGHTERS NEAR PALISADES LOS ANGELES FIRE: SHERIFF

Firefighters monitor the progress of the Palisades Fire in Mandeville Canyon on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)

Pacific Palisades residents are suing the utility company for property and personal damages.

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“The Palisades Fire was a traumatic event for its victims, who, through no fault of their own, went from homeowners to homeless in a matter of hours,” the lawyers wrote, adding that the fire killed at least eight people and injured numerous civilians and firefighters and destroyed at least 5,300 homes and businesses in Pacific Palisades, Malibu and Topanga Canyon.

Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and Newsom’s office he did not immediately respond to the comment.