Los Angeles utilities lack common safety procedures and may have kept water flowing to fire hydrants during the intentional power outage, but President Biden blamed the power outage for the problem.
Republicans, including President-elect Trump, are blaming Democratic officials, at least in part, for water shortages that are hampering efforts to tackle devastating wildfires in Los Angeles County. But Democrats rebuked those claims, and on Thursday Biden suggested that the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) was responsible for cutting off power to the pumps that fuel the fire hydrants.
“What I learned from talking to the governor is that there is a concern that we are also experiencing a water shortage,” Biden told reporters. “The fact is, of course, the power companies shut off the power because they were worried that the power lines carrying the energy would be blown out, causing more fires. Then they would have to pump water to generate electricity. “That’s because there’s not enough water in these hydrants. ”
Biden noted that generators have been deployed after the shutdown to power pumps and ensure there is no shortage of water for firefighting.
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Eaton Fire hoses are turned on after hydrants run out of water as strong winds force people to evacuate as devastating wildfires break out in the Los Angeles area on January 9, 2025 in Altadena, California, United States. Firefighters hoisting up. (Reuters/Fred) Grieve)
However, a Wall Street Journal report published Friday highlighted that LADWP is the only major power company in California that does not have an intentional shutoff procedure, known as a “public safety power shutoff” procedure. . The protocol sets out a plan for how to proactively shut down certain power lines during dangerous storm events and limit the impact on public safety.
“Preparing for power outages requires careful planning, and it starts with properly designing water systems and working with local fire agencies and energy companies to ensure community safety.”The state’s private utilities The operator, California Water Service, explains: FAQ page on the website regarding public safety power outages.
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“We go above and beyond standard procedures to ensure water service is not interrupted during power outages,” the company added. “California Water has installed permanent generators at many of our critical stations for many years and is working to install additional portable generators at other stations. Our crews and employees We are also trained in emergency response procedures in the event of a widespread disaster.”
Michael Walla, an attorney who directs the Climate and Energy Policy Program at Stanford University and researches wildfire mitigation strategies, said in comments to the Wall Street Journal that there is a strong correlation between reliability and safety. There is no need to ask for any trade-offs.”
Firefighters battle the Kenneth Fire in the West Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles on Thursday, January 9, 2025. (Photo/Ethan Swope)
Edward Ring, director of water and energy policy at the California Policy Center, acknowledged there are steps that can be taken to maintain power to pumps during intentional outages.
“We need to put the power lines underground. That would be the solution. Otherwise, we would install a parallel system that runs to critical services like fire hydrant pumps that are not on the same circuit as the power lines that run into the home. There is a need,” Ring said. .
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A spokesperson for LADWP told FOX News Digital that because the city of Los Angeles does not have a public safety power shutoff protocol, they have put in place other procedures to reduce the risk of fire while continuing essential functions. Ta. A spokesperson said Los Angeles’ urban environment is different from the environment served by other California utilities.
“LADWP worked closely with the Los Angeles Fire Department to develop this emergency protocol,” a spokesperson said. “LADWP’s plans are audited every three years by an independent third party and submitted to state regulators as appropriate.”
However, according to the Wall Street Journal, LADWP has said in the past that it does not proactively shut off power in advance of strong winds.
A firefighter removes a hose from a hydrant at the Eaton Fire after it runs out of water as high winds force people to evacuate during a devastating wildfire in the Los Angeles area in Altadena, California, USA. 9th, 2025. (Reuters/Fred Greaves)
Former Los Angeles firefighter John Knox told Fox News on Friday that he was “surprised” to hear that fire hydrants were running dry, adding: “There’s a lot of questions you have to ask people to get answers.” From these so-called leaders he added. ”
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“In my career, I have never seen a fire hydrant empty. Sometimes a fire hydrant is empty, but we do a test every January where we test all our fire hydrants. We do, but that didn’t happen this year,” Knox said. . “There is a very large reservoir in that area, four huge tanks, which should always be full, and one of them has been out of service for a year during peak brush season for maintenance. I understand though.
“There are many questions and many questions the public needs to ask to get answers from these so-called leaders.”
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