Los Angeles’ $750,000-a-year water chief couldn’t explain why fire hydrants ran dry during disastrous wildfires in a clumsy video.
During a news conference Wednesday, Janisse Quiñones, the newly appointed executive director and chief engineer of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, said all water storage tanks in the Pacific Palisades area “ran dry” as the flames continue to burn.
At least seven people have died and nearly 180,000 have been forced from their homes amid the most destructive fire in the county’s history.
Quiñones, who previously worked for PG&E before being appointed in May, said the third tank of water ran out around 3 a.m. local time on Wednesday, after the first tank ran out around 4:45 p.m. and the second at approximately 8:30 pm, each at approximately 1,000,000 gallons each.
‘Those tanks help with the pressure on the fire hydrants in the Palisades hills, and because we were pushing so much water on our trunk line, and so much water was being used before it could get to the tanks, we couldn’t fill the tanks. tanks quickly enough,” he explained.
“So the water consumption was faster than we can supply on our trunk line,” he continued, adding that there is water on the truck line, but “it can’t go up the hill because we can’t fill the tanks fast enough.” .
After someone asked him the number of hydrants that cannot receive water due to these problems, Quiñones began to doubt his words.
“We, um, were trying to keep water at all altitudes in the Palisades, and I think around three in the morning, that’s when… uh, the hydrants went dry over the Brentwood area.”
Janisse Quiñones, the newly appointed executive director and chief engineer of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, faltered during a press conference Wednesday addressing the city’s devastating wildfires.
People are seen searching the remains of a house that was burned down in Altadena.
‘We were able to push water on that trunk line, on the east side of that, um, and we have some water at high elevations: 16,000 to 80,000, but at 3,000, all of it, by 3 a.m., all of the fire hydrants dried up. in Palisades. he added.
Quiñones said construction crews are sending about 20 water tanks to firefighters to help them continue fighting the growing fire.
“We’ve identified other areas in our system where tankers can refill; it takes about 30 minutes to refill about 4,000 gallons of water, and we’re constantly moving that water to the fire department to get them as much water as we can.” can.
He further warned that because the department is “putting so much pressure on the water system,” water quality “is declining in the Palisades area.”
Since then, a boil water advisory has been issued for the Los Angeles area for the next 48 hours, the CEO said.
Amid the horrific fires, angry Los Angeles residents have criticized local politicians for a shocking litany of failures that have exacerbated the deadly wildfires currently ravaging the city.
At least six people have died and nearly 180,000 have been forced from their homes amid the most destructive fire in the county’s history.
Quiñones said the water tanks, which help fill the fire hydrants, ran out at 3 a.m. local time Wednesday. (Pictured: A firefighter removes a hose from a hydrant after it ran out of water)
Complaints range from Mayor Karen Bass being AWOL in Africa, to fire hydrants running out of water and electricity and power lines left on to fuel flames.
Businessman and mayoral candidate Rick Caruso criticized local officials for not refilling water supplies despite knowing strong winds were coming that could spark wildfires.
‘Their hands are tied. They cannot fight a fire without water and the necessary resources. Everyone knew these winds were coming.’ Caruso told Fox 11.
‘The other question has to be: were all necessary steps taken to try to mitigate the damage here?
‘The real problem for me here is twofold. We have had decades to eliminate the weeds in these hills that spread so quickly, and the second is that we have to have water.
Businessman and former Republican mayoral candidate Rick Caruso criticized Los Angeles officials for failing to recharge the city’s water supply, causing a shortage at hydrants.
‘My understanding is that the reservoir was not refilled in time, in a timely manner to keep the hydrants running…this is basic stuff, not advanced science here.
“We are seeing a failure in leadership and management, and all of these residents are paying the ultimate price for it.”
Audio of communications between firefighters confirms that rescuers ran out of water in some areas.
‘We don’t have water, it’s… we’re doing the best we can up there. We make sure people don’t get in the way,” a firefighter is heard saying.
Attorney and Pacific Palisades native Rachel Darvish, 49, whose home was likely engulfed by the flames, questioned why officials like Mayor Karen Bass didn’t plan ahead despite knowing “critical” weather conditions were coming.
“I don’t know if our house is still there, what I can tell you is that I have a photo of the neighbor’s house that no longer exists,” Darvish told Fox News.
‘We have questions. I know where I am now, but I don’t know where my mayor was when this happened. Now I know where I was.
“No one told us where to go or what to do. He didn’t even have an evacuation order. I love the fire department, I love our fire personnel (but) we need more, where were they?
Many have complained that Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is AWOL in Africa, with fire hydrants running out of water and electricity and power lines left on to feed the flames. (Pictured: Bass and Gavin Newsom touring the Palisades on Wednesday)
Speaking of Bass, he continued: ‘For someone to be in charge of my city, where were you? Where were you when decisions should have been made about how to enter and exit places?
Many celebrities have seen their multimillion-dollar mansions burned to the ground as the fire spread to the Hollywood Hills, prompting criticism of city officials who have been blamed for failing to adequately prepare for the disaster.