In Los Angeles County, firefighters are facing a serious problem as they battle destructive wildfires, encountering dry fire hydrants just when they need them most. The ongoing Palisades Fire has already burned around 25,000 acres and is not contained, while another fire near Pasadena has also ravaged over 5,000 acres. These fires have resulted in significant destruction, including more than 1,000 homes lost and evacuations for over 150,000 residents. The powerful Santa Ana winds, with gusts up to 100 mph, are worsening the situation and grounding firefighting aircraft.
Firefighters have reported that many hydrants have run dry, severely limiting their ability to fight the fires. Business owner Rick Caruso expressed outrage over the critical failure of hydrants, saying that firefighters were unable to help as neighborhoods burned. This situation raises important questions about the maintenance and inspection of fire hydrants in such a wealthy area.
Amid these challenges, Janisse Quiñones, a local official overseeing fire hydrant maintenance, earns an annual salary of $750,000. This figure is notably higher than that of her predecessor, and her appointment comes amid growing criticism regarding the management of Los Angeles’ water supply system. Quiñones, who was chosen by Mayor Karen Bass, acknowledged that the water system is under unprecedented strain, resulting in lowered water pressure and urging residents to conserve water.
Despite her efforts to deal with the crisis, Quiñones stated that the fire department is struggling to manage the demands placed on the water system, describing it as a challenge to fight wildfires with urban water systems. As the situation worsened, she warned residents about the declining water quality, advising them to boil water due to the presence of ash in the system.
Quiñones stressed the need for systemic change to deal with increasingly frequent wildfires. She lamented the complexity of managing fire response and water needs amidst ongoing fires and power outages. There are calls for a more resilient water management system in light of climate change, requiring collaboration among different water agencies.
Former President Donald Trump has also weighed in on the situation, criticizing California's policies and state management that he claims exacerbate wildfire risks. He accused Governor Gavin Newsom of ineptitude regarding water infrastructure and management, suggesting that protective measures for fish have come at the expense of human safety.
Mayor Bass faced backlash for being out of town during the crisis, returning to Los Angeles only after the fires escalated. Reports indicate that the current water shortage reflects years of mismanagement within Los Angeles' water system, highlighting many operational issues that have persisted.
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/01/fire-fury-overpaid-bureaucrat-responsible-filling-up-fire/
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