More than twelve individuals affected by the Pacific Palisades wildfire have filed a lawsuit against a public utility, alleging that failures in water supply contributed to the widespread destruction in Los Angeles.

The suit, lodged by local residents and the owner of a pizzeria located in the heavily damaged area, accuses the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power of allowing fire hydrants to run dry shortly after the fire began. The plaintiffs claim they lost their homes or businesses as a result of the blaze.

The Palisades Fire, which has become the most devastating wildfire in Los Angeles history, ignited last Tuesday and was the first in a series of rapidly spreading fires. It has destroyed thousands of homes, businesses, significant landmarks, and vehicles, creating a nightmarish situation in the Los Angeles region and leading to evacuations for tens of thousands of people.

According to the lawsuit, the LADWP, the largest municipal utility in the United States, failed to keep water in a nearby reservoir that was empty when the fire broke out. The Santa Ynez Reservoir, capable of holding up to 117 million gallons, reportedly ran dry back in February 2024.

The legal action, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court by law firms Robertson & Associates and Foley Bezek Behle & Curtis, asserts that LADWP postponed necessary repairs to save money.

“Had the LADWP acted responsibly, the extent of damage caused by the Palisades Fire could have been significantly lessened,” the lawsuit states.

This lawsuit arrives amidst increasing backlash against utilities and political leaders regarding their response to the deadly fires. California Governor Gavin Newsom has initiated an investigation into LADWP’s failures in water supply, while the utility claims its water system was overwhelmed by the massive fires.

Newsom also pointed out that local hydrant systems are not built to tackle such large-scale fires, but the lack of expected water supply likely hindered efforts to safeguard homes and evacuation routes.

Lawsuit: Water Supply Depleted During Historic LA Fire

The complaint filed Monday in Los Angeles County Superior Court indicates that some hydrants in Pacific Palisades went dry just hours after the fire ignited, attributing the rapid depletion to the empty reservoir.

The Santa Ynez Reservoir was depleted back in February 2024 after its floating cover was damaged, leading to contamination from debris, bird droppings, and other pollutants, according to the lawsuit. It criticized the utility for its delayed repair efforts, emphasizing that LADWP was cognizant of the heightened fire risks due to the Santa Ana winds, as forewarned by the National Weather Service.

The lawsuit further highlighted that Pacific Palisades is classified as a high-fire-risk zone, as indicated by a map from the California Public Utilities Commission.

In response to the fire, LADWP defended its water system’s performance, blaming “unprecedented and extreme water demand to combat the wildfire without aerial support” for the water pressure issues. The utility stated that while some hydrants at higher elevations were affected, it quickly dispatched potable water tankers to assist in firefighting efforts.

Regarding the non-operational reservoir, LADWP explained, “To arrange the support and resources needed for repairs to Santa Ynez, LADWP must follow the city charter’s competitive bidding process, which takes time,” the utility noted in a statement.

YSL News contacted the LADWP for further comments on Tuesday.

Governor Launches Investigation into Water System Failures During Fire

Governor Newsom has announced an independent investigation into the issues related to water accessibility that reportedly obstructed firefighting efforts. His declaration comes as politicians, including President-elect Donald Trump, criticize California’s leaders for their lack of preparedness for the fires.

The reported loss of water pressure in local hydrants and the unavailability of water from the Santa Ynez Reservoir are “extremely concerning,” Newsom stated in a letter addressed to the leaders of LADWP and Los Angeles County Public Works. He mentioned that state water and firefighting authorities would carry out an independent review to determine the cause of these failures.

“We require answers to ensure such situations do not recur, and that we have all necessary resources to combat these catastrophic fires,” Newsom added.

Janisse Quiñones, CEO of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, admitted shortly after the fires erupted that the city’s water system was under “extreme” pressure. She noted that the city’s three large water storage tanks holding one million gallons each in the Palisades area had become empty.

“We experienced demand four times higher than normal for a continuous duration of 15 hours, which resulted in reduced water pressure,” Quiñones stated. “This was like a worst-case scenario; however, we should be preparing for such extreme situations.”

The lawsuit follows other legal actions related to California wildfires, which have been linked to the deaths of at least two dozen individuals and have scorched tens of thousands of acres across Los Angeles, leading to what is expected to be the most expensive natural disaster in U.S. history.

Residents and business owners have also recently taken legal action against Southern California Edison regarding the ongoing Eaton Fire near Pasadena, California.

Contributing: Terry Collins, YSL News: Reuters