Years before the wildfires in Los Angeles caused major destruction and evacuations, audits and reports warned that California’s water management and fire prevention policies could lead to disaster. These concerns included issues with fire safety regulations, vegetation management, and water availability in a state often affected by drought. A significant challenge for first responders during recent wildfires has been dried-up fire hydrants due to depleted water tanks.
Janisse Quiñones, overseeing the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, reported that all three large tanks in the area were empty early Wednesday, which hindered water pressure for fire hydrants situated at higher elevations. In response to the wildfires, President Joe Biden ordered the deployment of 10 Navy helicopters to combat the multiple fires in Southern California. President-elect Donald Trump criticized Governor Gavin Newsom for not signing a 2019 water restoration declaration, which Trump claimed would have provided sufficient water for fire management.
Trump contended that Newsom’s refusal to sign the declaration prevented the flow of millions of gallons of water to parts of California that are currently affected by severe fires. Trump’s administration had proposed increasing water extraction from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to conserve more water, but restrictions were in place to protect a rare fish species. He argued that prioritizing the fish led to a failure to support California’s residents.
During his presidency, Trump pressured Newsom for better wildfire prevention measures, threatening to withhold federal funding if improvements were not made. He pointed out that poor forest management was a major cause of California's frequent and destructive wildfires. The rapid spread of fires this year can be attributed to the drought and strong Santa Anna winds, resulting in thousands needing to evacuate and many losing their homes.
Senator Ron Johnson criticized California’s policies, calling for better forest maintenance and effective water conservation. He highlighted available water from snowpacks that were not being utilized effectively due to regulatory restrictions. Some users on social media questioned why California’s brush clearing policies were insufficient, suggesting that more proactive measures over recent years could have reduced fire risks.
The Los Angeles Fire Department does permit brush clearing to prevent fires but has limits on when and how it can be done. Bobby Charles, a former government official, labeled California as a "failed state" due to its poor decision-making. Multiple reports have indicated ongoing problems with California's preparations for wildfires and regulatory failures relating to power lines which have contributed to major fires, prompting calls for greater accountability from utility regulators.
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