The Brief
- Wildfires have scorched tens of thousands of acres across Los Angeles County since Tuesday.
- The Palisades Fire broke out Tuesday, fanned by devastating Santa Ana winds.
- Early in the firefight, water pressure issues made it difficult for firefighters to put out flames.
- California Gov. Gavin Newsom is calling for an investigation into the lack of water pressure in local fire hydrants during the firefight.
LOS ANGELES – California Gov. Gavin Newsom has called for an investigation into issues with Los Angeles County‘s water supply after firefighters battling the Palisades Fire earlier this week struggled to get water from local fire hydrants.
The Palisades Fire has burned tens of thousands of acres in the Pacific Palisades and Malibu, destroyed thousands of structures, and displaced thousands more. The fire broke out on Jan. 7, as hurricane-force winds helped the flames quickly get out of control. The Palisades Fire is one of more than half a dozen fires that have broken out across the region throughout the week.
Firefighters struggled to put out the flames on Tuesday, with air resources grounded due to the high winds. However, firefighters on the ground also reported a lack of water pressure from local hydrants, with videos of firefighters using things like purses filled with water to put out flames. …