A firefighter is seen battling the Eaton Fire on January 8, 2025, in Altadena, California. Captain Kevin Easton described the challenging situation of dealing with dry hydrants during the Pacific Palisades fire in Los Angeles County. Firefighters in Altadena also faced low water pressure as they fought to contain the Eaton fire. Pasadena Fire Chief Chad Augustin explained that the strain on the water system was a result of multiple fires taxing the resources of the area.
As wildfires continue to devastate residential areas, firefighters across Los Angeles County are grappling with water system limitations that are unable to meet the heightened demand during emergencies. According to water experts, urban water systems often struggle to cope with the demands of large-scale wildfires, as they are primarily designed for smaller, localized incidents.
The challenges of battling wildfires were evident when firefighters worked to extinguish burning embers at a home on Santa Rosa Avenue, known as Christmas Tree Lane, after it was destroyed by the Eaton Fire on January 9, 2025, in Altadena, California. The strain on the local water systems during such crises highlights the need for better infrastructure planning and resources allocation.
A firefighter speaks in front of the advancing Kenneth Fire in the West Hills section of Los Angeles on January 9, 2025. By Thursday evening, Kristin M. Crowley, the chief of the Los Angeles Fire Department, announced that firefighters had ceased drawing water from fire hydrants. Crowley noted that firefighters had trained for the scenario of potentially running out of water during brush fires, typically relying on aircraft that drop retardant and water. However, due to high winds grounding firefighting aircraft, it became unsafe for them to carry out their aerial drops, exacerbating the water shortage.
Addressing concerns raised by Pierce regarding water systems designed for urban fires rather than fast-moving wildfires, Crowley acknowledged the challenges. Nevertheless, she emphasized that the costly prospect of redesigning water systems to combat the increasingly prevalent massive wildfires in California posed a significant obstacle.
While the internet buzzed with news of dry fire hydrants, questions arose on social media about why ocean water is not utilized to fight wildfires. Although saltwater can be effective in firefighting efforts, it is not a sustainable solution due to its potential environmental harm, such as damaging ecosystems for extended periods, as reported by technology.org. Moreover, seawater’s corrosive nature poses risks to firefighting equipment like hoses, hydrants, and tanks.
Former water engineer Mary Adams highlighted the unconventional nature of the current crisis, stating, “We are looking at a situation that is just completely not part of any domestic water system design.” Adams emphasized the need for innovative thinking in system design if such scenarios become more commonplace. She also raised a broader question about the wisdom of rebuilding communities adjacent to wildlands in the face of escalating wildfires driven by climate change.
A tweet shared on January 8, 2025, humorously suggested a simplistic solution to California’s fires: “Found a solution to fires in California It’s called water.” However, the tweet underscores the complexity of the challenges faced by firefighters and authorities in managing wildfires, as the availability and distribution of water emerge as critical factors in fire suppression efforts.
As California grapples with the mounting threat of wildfires, the recent episode involving dry fire hydrants serves as a stark reminder of the need for comprehensive strategies to address the evolving nature of these disasters. The debate over leveraging ocean water for firefighting purposes underscores the urgency of finding sustainable solutions that balance effectiveness with environmental considerations. Amidst these discussions, the fundamental question of adapting infrastructure and community planning to the realities of climate change looms large, prompting a reevaluation of traditional approaches to fire management in the state.
