LA Water Wars: A Century-Old Battle Reignites Amid Devastating Firestorms

For over a century, the Los Angeles Water Wars have shaped California’s history, defining battles over resources, power, and survival. Now, after firestorms ravaged Pacific Palisades and Altadena, a new chapter is unfolding—one where local and state leaders, billionaires, and keyboard warriors clash in a digital battlefield over what went wrong.

While accusations and defenses fly, the lives of everyday Californians remain caught in the balance, suffocating under the weight of both literal smoke and the figurative haze of political finger-pointing.

The New Water Wars

Governor Newsom has (again) taken to X to defend his administration’s response to the fires. In doing so, he has thrust hardworking firefighters into the center of a squabble with Elon Musk:

The governor praised a firefighter for what he claimed was exposing a billionaire’s “lies.” What lies, exactly? That remains unclear. If you watch the video, the most revealing moment comes during a conversation between Elon Musk and the firefighter at the 1:08 mark. Musk asked whether the hydrants in Pacific Palisades had run dry. The firefighter responded, “We were flowing, just an amount of water that system couldn’t… it was overbearing. Just because of how much water these firefighters were utilizing.”

First of all, I felt for this firefighter—he appeared not to be a high-ranking official, yet he was left to answer questions that exposed critical systemic issues.

Rather than debunking any claims, the exchange highlights a glaring issue: the infrastructure may simply have been overwhelmed by the extraordinary demand during the fire. That itself poses serious issues.

Newsom’s Investigation: Leaky Pipes, Power Outages or an Overburdened System?

In an interview with MSNBC on Sunday, Newsom addressed the incident, announcing an independent investigation into what happened at the Palisades. He alluded to several possible factors contributing to the low water pressure, including leaky pipes, power outages at water tanks, and an overburdened system. Newsom emphasized the need for answers, stating that “all must be investigated.”

Yet the moment passed without scrutiny. The MSNBC reporter failed to follow up on any of the scenarios Newsom raised, leaving critical questions unanswered. Furthermore, Newsom has yet to hold a public press conference with broader media representation to address the investigation. So far, he has only spoken to reporters known to be friendly to him, fueling concerns about transparency in the wake of such a devastating failure.

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Hey LADWP, What do You Say?

As for those who could provide clarity—the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP)—their statements have only added to the confusion. On January 8, LADWP released a statement addressing the incident, but the last line raises more questions than it answers. It mentions sending crews to refill the Marquez Knolls tank, a process typically automated. Why did it require manual intervention?

January 8

January 9

The next day, on January 9, LADWP CEO Janisse Quiñones addressed reporters and revealed additional details. She stated that the water system faced four times the normal demand for 15 hours straight, ultimately causing LADWP to run out of water in three massive tanks used during the Palisades Fire. The third tank, each holding one million gallons of water, was completely emptied by 3 a.m. Wednesday morning. Quiñones also confirmed that the Santa Ynez reservoir, a critical water source, was empty and undergoing renovations at the time.

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January 11

Further complicating the narrative, LADWP issued subsequent statements claiming there were no power outages at pump stations. But this raises another question: what about the storage tanks themselves? The January 8 statement specifically mentioned sending crews to manually refill the Marquez Knolls tank—a detail that remains unexplained. If there were no power outages, why couldn’t the automated system handle the task?

January 13

And that leads us to today, where the LADWP appears to shift the blame: a lack of aerial support and climate change.

In a statement, they said:
“No power was lost to LADWP pump stations during the fire, and water supply remained strong to the area. Water pressure in the system was lost due to unprecedented and extreme water demand to fight the wildfire without aerial support.

The water system serving the Pacific Palisades area and all of Los Angeles meets all federal and state fire codes for urban development and housing….. We welcome a review and update of these codes and requirements if city water systems will be used to fight extreme wildfires.”

The statement underscores LADWP’s position that the system itself isn’t at fault. Any way you slice this, it’s shaping up to be a messy battle, and residents may be waiting a long time for clear answers.

2014’s PROP 1 Clarification

Finally, much has been said on social media about Proposition 1, the measure approved by California voters in 2014 that allocated $2.7 billion for investments in water storage projects.

It’s important to note that this was a statewide proposition, not specific to Los Angeles County. While none of the approved projects appear to directly impact Los Angeles, critics are justified in pointing out that nearly a decade later, not one of the eight projects has been completed. For more information, you can learn about the status of these projects here and here

Palisades Fire Investigation

A popular hiking trial is now under investigation as a potential ignition point for the devastating Palisades Fire that destroyed thousands of structures last week. The Temescal Ridge Trail is typically known for its views and skeletal-shaped Skull Rock—a favorite among hikers.

Eaton Fire Investigation

Investigators are examining the cause of the Eaton Fire in Altadena, with a Southern California Edison electrical tower under scrutiny. Residents’ RING cameras reportedly captured footage from multiple angles, potentially providing crucial evidence in determining whether the tower played a role in sparking the deadly wildfire.

NBC Los Angeles reporter Conan Nolan spoke with a resident who revealed a startling account of the Eaton Fire. He said firefighters didn’t arrive until Friday—three days after the fire began. He managed to save his own home by using buckets of water from his backyard pool, a desperate measure that underscores the challenges faced by residents there.

Fire Donations

As wildfires ravage Los Angeles County, Hollywood, media companies, and relief organizations are raising funds for victims and first responders. Billionaire Rick Caruso and his wife pledged $5 million to the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation.

In 2022, during his Los Angeles mayoral campaign, Rick Caruso warned about the underfunding of emergency services and the inadequacy of fire prevention infrastructure. He stressed the importance of better brush management and smarter resource allocation to mitigate wildfire risks.

While his daughter lost her home in the Palisades, his mall property development large survived and it serves as a stark example of the contrast between emergency preparedness and systemic shortcomings.

Yes, Caruso had the resources for a private fire team to help protect structures, but maybe what set this apart was the investment in modern fire suppression systems, fire retardant materials, and extensive perimeter protections, showcasing what can be achieved through planning. Perhaps this is something that city and state leaders could benefit from learning from.

“Mother Nature Owned Us”

On 60 Minutes, Orange County Fire Chief Brian Fennessy described the L.A. fires as “unstoppable,” candidly admitting, “Mother Nature owned us.” A highly respected leader, Chief Fennessy has been at the forefront of battling some of Southern California’s most intense wildfires. This interview provides a powerful perspective from someone who’s seen the devastating realities of these disasters up close.