Hydrant Cost Delays Rebuilding for Fire Victims
Two residents from Pacific Palisades are facing a significant hurdle in their attempt to rebuild their homes, which were destroyed during last year’s wildfires. They’ve been informed that a new fire hydrant, costing $35,000, must be installed before they can start construction.
The couple, Chris and Jeff Spitz, lost their home of 34 years in a fire last January. Since then, they have been navigating the challenges of rebuilding their lives, but recently encountered a frustrating obstacle: they were told that their property was too far from the nearest fire hydrant, necessitating the substantial financial outlay before they could proceed.
“The fire department came back and said, ‘Before we approve this permit, we need to install a new hydrant because you guys are over twice the legal limit from the nearest hydrant,'” Jeff said in a statement. He was advised to contact the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power to get a construction estimate for the new hydrant.
Chris expressed his dismay, stating he felt “sickened” by the news and mentioned that their insurance wouldn’t cover such high costs.
“We didn’t say we want to tear this down and build a brand new house. We’re just trying to put it back together,” he added, underscoring their intent to restore rather than rebuild entirely.
Unfortunately, the fire had ravaged their entire neighborhood, including the area near the hydrant, which is approximately 300 feet from their property.
After nearly three months without progress, they received word from Los Angeles City Council member Tracy Park, who represents Pacific Palisades, that the LADWP would eventually cover the cost of the hydrant.
Park expressed her outrage over the situation, saying, “My anger is extraordinary. I really can’t imagine a more insulting thing for someone who has lost their home to have to pay to have a new fire hydrant installed.”
During the wildfire, the water demand in Pacific Palisades surged to four times the usual amount, which contributed to some of the water pressure issues faced by firefighting efforts at the time, according to the utility company.
Chris pointed out that the authorities are aware of the frequent fire incidents in the area, adding, “They know there’s always fires here, and during that time nobody did anything about the hydrants.”
The LADWP clarified that the locations of the hydrants were determined by the Los Angeles Fire Department and that upcoming repairs to the water mains in the area should enhance flow rates. However, it was noted that the need for additional hydrants would be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
