Gavin Newsom Launches Probe Into Waterless L.A. Fire Hydrants
Gavin Newsom has ordered a probe into why Los Angeles fire hydrants ran out of water during a spate of wildfires that have decimated the region.
The California governor has been slammed this week over the issue, with President-elect Donald Trump—a longtime political foe—going as far as saying Newsom should resign over the hydrant issue.
Newsom admitted in a letter to the L.A. Department of Water and Power that the lack of water “impaired the effort to protect some homes and evacuation corridors.” He noted, however, that the wildfires likely could not have been completely extinguished even if the dried-up hydrants had been in full working order.
The 57-year-old asked the department to complete a review and provide answers for the lack of water—and, in other places, water pressure—that compounded this disaster.
“We need answers to how that happened,” he said.
NEW: I am calling for an independent investigation into the loss of water pressure to local fire hydrants and the reported unavailability of water supplies from the Santa Ynez Reservoir.
We need answers to ensure this does not happen again and we have every resource available to… pic.twitter.com/R0vq0wwZph— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) January 10, 2025
Firefighters working overtime to contain the flames have shared their frustration with the issue. Brian Entin, a NewsNation reporter on the ground in Los Angeles, reported that he witnessed firefighters resort to using water from a residential pool after nearby fire hydrants ran dry.
Los Angeles County is in a state of crisis with more than 10,000 structures—mostly homes and apartments—destroyed and more than 300,000 people displaced. The Palisades fire, one of multiple burning, was just 8 percent contained as of 1 p.m. local time Friday.
Trump weighed into the disaster on Wednesday to place the blame on Newsom.
“One of the best and most beautiful parts of the United States of America is burning down to the ground,” he wrote. “It’s ashes, and Gavin Newscum (sic) should resign. This is all his fault!!!”
The Los Angeles Olympics should be cancelled.
If you can't fill a fire hydrant, you aren't qualified to host the Olympics.
Move them to Dallas, or Miami, so the world's athletes can compete in a place capable of actually safely building and running something.— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) January 10, 2025
Others on the right have taken things a step further, including the conservative commentator Charlie Kirk. He suggested Friday that Los Angeles should lose its rights to the 2028 Olympic Games.
Conveniently, Kirk suggested the games should be moved to Miami or Dallas—cities in deep-red states.
“The Los Angeles Olympics should be cancelled,” he posted to X. “If you can’t fill a fire hydrant, you aren’t qualified to host the Olympics. Move them to Dallas, or Miami, so the world’s athletes can compete in a place capable of actually safely building and running something.”
