LADWP Plans to Hire an Independent Engineer to Investigate Water Loss During Palisades Firefight

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power is investigating whether an empty reservoir led to the failure of its water system during the deadly Palisades Fire. Several fire hydrants ran dry during the peak of the firefight on January 7th and 8th. The 117-million-gallon Santa Ynez reservoir, near the Palisades Highlands neighborhood, was drained early last year after a tear was found in its protective cover.
The LADWP is planning to hire an independent engineer to assess how much the reservoir being empty contributed to the loss of water and water pressure. LADWP Assistant General Manager Anselmo G. Collins says it’s unclear if the reservoir being full “would have made much of a difference.”