Officials say a large reservoir in Pacific Palisades was closed for repairs when a devastating brushfire started Tuesday.
Los Angeles’ water chief, DWP CEO Janisse Quiñones reportedly knew about an empty reservoir and broken fire hydrants months before the deadly wildfires now spreading across the city that have left some communities in ashes. The Daily Mail reports she was hired by Mayor Karen Bass on a $750,000 salary in May.
According to officials, the 117-million gallon reservoir was out of commission because there was a tear in its cover. The news comes as residents question why there wasn’t enough water to combat the deadly fire that’s burned over 20-thousand acres and destroyed at least 53-hundred structures.
According to the report, numerous fire hydrants in the higher-elevation streets of the Palisades neighborhood went dry. Governor Gavin Newsom has ordered an independent investigation of the L.A. Department of Water and Power because of the empty reservoir and the loss of water pressure.