LADWP Sued in Connection with Palisades Fire

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power is facing its first lawsuit in connection with the deadly Palisades Fire. A group of survivors of the Palisades Fire blames the LADWP for the water delivery issues that hindered firefighters during the height of their response on January 7th, as hurricane-force winds whipped through Pacific Palisades and Malibu.
Attorney Roger Behle, who represents one of the plaintiffs, says “the water supply system servicing Pacific Palisades failed miserably.” Firefighters reported little to no water pressure coming from fire hydrants while the fire tore through neighborhoods. Behle also says, the nearby Santa Ynez Reservoir, a 117-million-gallon water storage complex that is part of the Los Angeles water supply system, had been empty for nearly a year. Behle claims the LADWP chose not to repair it as a cost-saving measure.