Los Angeles utility blames Palisades Fire water shortages, court filings show Via Reuters

(Reuters) – The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power was sued on Monday over allegations that it failed to properly manage water supplies critical to fighting the deadly Palisades Fire, which has killed at least eight people and destroy thousands of buildings. showed.

The lawsuit, filed on behalf of residents and others affected by the historic fire that ravaged the West Los Angeles community of Pacific Palisades, alleges that LADWP should have stored water in a nearby reservoir, which was dry during the fire. he started jumping last tuesday.

“The Palisades Fire was a traumatic event for its victims, who through no fault of their own, went from homeowners to homeless in a matter of hours,” according to the complaint, filed by the firm. law Robertson & Associates in Los Angeles Superior Court. .

Gov. Gavin Newsom last week called for an investigation into water resource practices by LADWP, the largest municipal utility in the US.

LADWP Director Janisse Quinones said the need to fight water in low-lying areas is hindering the city’s ability to fill water tanks in high-lying areas. LADWP said it filled all available water tanks in the city ahead of the storm, which continued to spread rapidly.

Three water storage tanks were exhausted during the day the fire started, Quinones said last week in a press conference.