Following the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles County, California Governor Gavin Newsom has called for an independent investigation into the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP). This action comes after reports emerged of firefighters encountering dry fire hydrants during the emergency, hindering their efforts to combat the blaze.

In a letter addressed to the LADWP, Newsom expressed serious concern over the reports of inadequate water pressure and supply to fire hydrants. He acknowledged that while hydrants aren't typically the primary water source for battling large-scale wildfires, the loss of pressure likely hampered efforts to protect homes and maintain evacuation routes. He emphasized the need for a thorough investigation to understand the causes of these failures and to implement measures to prevent similar issues in future emergencies.

Newsom's call for an independent review echoes concerns raised by Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, who previously stated that up to 20% of the city's hydrants were dry during the fires. The LADWP had been working to maintain water pressure by pumping water from aqueducts and groundwater, but the immense demand overwhelmed the system, particularly impacting the tanks that supply pressure to hydrants in the Pacific Palisades area. The resulting loss of water pressure coincided with the destruction of thousands of homes and buildings.

Newsom has directed state water and firefighting officials to conduct a comprehensive after-incident report to examine the specific reasons behind the water supply issues. He has also requested that LADWP and Los Angeles County officials undertake their own reviews to evaluate their emergency preparedness procedures and identify any contributing factors to the hydrant failures. The goal is to develop strategies to ensure adequate water availability for emergency response during future catastrophic events.