California Governor Gavin Newsom called for an investigation yesterday into the Los Angeles County’s fire hydrant and other water failures as officials continued battling stubborn blazes swallowing over 35,000 acres as the death toll hit 11.
“The ongoing reports of 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 to the community,” Newsom said in a letter addressed to Los Angeles Department of Water and Power CEO and Chief Engineer Janisse Quiñones and L.A. County Public Works Director Mark Pestrella.
Winds were set to calm, although strong gusts were still reported. Winds are forecast to return today, Sunday and next week, with the death toll from the current fires expected to climb in the coming days, officials said.
Firefighters and residents have been injured in the life-threatening outbreak, which continued to force evacuation orders and warning for some 153,000 people.
There are six active large wildfires throughout the Los Angeles County. The Palisades and Eaton fires are the most destructive in the state’s history. Both are less than 10 percent contained.
Officials gave an update on the fire early Friday afternoon. “It looks like a war zone. I’ve never seen anything like it,” a member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Kathryn Barger told reporters. – The Independent
