Firefighters can only do so much.
As wildfires continue to spread across Southern California, firefighters from surrounding areas are working together to extinguish them. However, even with additional support, containment remains futile due to strong winds.
“It’s very frustrating,” the fire chief of Northern California’s El Dorado Hills told NBC Los Angeles while battling the Eaton Fire. “I mean, everyone is doing the best they can with what we have, and it’s frustrating that it’s not enough.”
Still, he said, “I’m saving as much as I can.”
Their fight in some areas has been hampered by water pressure issues that are affecting the ability to supply water to fire hydrants.
Janice Quinones, CEO and chief engineer for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, said three large water tanks, each holding about 1 million gallons, were affected.
“We couldn’t fill the tanks fast enough, so the water was being consumed faster than we could supply it to the mains,” Kinoes said.
Strong winds also affected air support, with firefighting planes grounded on Tuesday night.
The lack of available resources and the scale of the fires that are spreading add to the daunting challenges faced by firefighters.
“Los Angeles County does not have enough firefighters to fight four fires of this size,” Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Malone said at a press conference Wednesday. “The Los Angeles County Fire Department was prepared for one or two large wildfires, but not for four. This is not a typical red flag alert.”
The Palisades Fire exploded during several hours of strong winds. Eric Leonard reported on NBC4 News on Wednesday, January 8, 2025.
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