Gov. Newsom Orders Independent Investigation Into Fire Hydrant Failures Amidst GOP Criticism
A home is engulfed in flames during the Eaton fire in the Altadena area of Los Angeles County, California on January 8, 2025.
California Democrat Governor Gavin Newsom announced on Friday that he
directed state water and firefighting officials to undergo an
independent investigation into the loss of water pressure to fire
hydrants during the destructive series of wildfires in Los Angeles
County this week.
“I am calling for an independent investigation into the loss of water
pressure to local fire hydrants and the reported unavailability of
water supplies from the Santa Ynez Reservoir. We need answers to ensure
this does not happen again and we have every resource available to fight
these catastrophic fires,” Newsom wrote in an X post.
NEW:
I am calling for an independent investigation into the loss of water
pressure to local fire hydrants and the reported unavailability of water
supplies from the Santa Ynez Reservoir.
We need answers to ensure this does not happen again and we have every resource available to… pic.twitter.com/R0vq0wwZph
Newsom’s post was accompanied by a letter sent to Los Angeles
Department of Water and Power CEO Janisse Quiñones, along with the Los
Angeles County Public Works Director Mark Pestrella.
“The ongoing reports of the loss of water pressure to some local fire
hydrants during the fires and the reported unavailability of water
supplies from the Santa Ynez Reservoir are deeply troubling to me and
the community. While water supplies from local fire hydrants are not
designed to extinguish wildfires over large areas, losing supplies from
fire hydrants likely impaired the effort to project some homes and
evacuation corridors,” Newsom wrote.
“We need answers to how that happened. Therefore, I have directed
state water and fire-fighting officials to prepare an independent
after-incident report examining the causes of lost water supply and
water pressure in municipal water systems during the fire events, and to
identify measures that local governments can implement to provide
adequate water supply for emergency response during future catastrophic
events,” he continued.
Newsom went on to request that the LADWP and L.A. County officials
“swiftly prepare a comprehensive review examining their local
preparation and response procedures to ensure available water supply for
emergencies, and document any causes of the loss of water pressure and
unavailability of water supplies.”
GOP leaders, including President-elect Donald Trump, slammed Newsom
for refusing to take preventative measures to ensure wildfires would not
break out to catastrophic levels, which is clearly now taking place in
Los Angeles County and surrounding areas as it suffers the most devastating series of fires it has ever seen.
“Governor Gavin Newscum refused to sign the water restoration
declaration put before him that would have allowed millions of gallons
of water, from excess rain and snow melt from the North, to flow daily
into many parts of California, including the areas that are currently
burning in a virtually apocalyptic way,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social
post.
“One of the best and most beautiful parts of the United States of
America is burning down to the ground. It’s ashes, and Gavin Newscum
should resign. This is all his fault!!!” Trump added.
The wildfires continue to rage on, killing at least 10 and burning over 35,000 acres across LA County.
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