More than a dozen victims of the Pacific Palisades fire are suing a Los Angeles utility company, accusing it of “negligence” that caused the fire's devastation.
The lawsuit, filed last week on behalf of area residents and the pizzeria owner, alleges the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power was unprepared for the Palisades fire and cut off critical water supplies before the inferno broke out. He accused them of staying thirsty. “This is the worst natural disaster in the history of the city of Los Angeles,” according to court documents obtained by Fox News Digital.
“The water supply system to Pacific Palisades suffered a catastrophic failure, leaving residents and firefighters with little to no water to fight the fires,” said one of the Palisades fire survivors. Roger Behle, a lawyer whose family also lost their home in the wildfires, said: said in a statement.
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Santa Ynez Reservoir seen from above, September 28, 2022. The reservoir, which serves the Pacific Palisades and Brentwood areas, is seen here with a cover to prevent evaporation. (Haley Smith/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
“Santa Ynez Reservoir, a 117 million gallon water storage facility that is part of the Los Angeles water system, is empty and has been for nearly a year,” Behle continued.
The Santa Ynez Reservoir was shut down in February 2024 by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power citing “water quality concerns” after a ruptured floating cap allowed debris, bird droppings and other objects to enter, the complaint says. It is claimed that the water was drained. Enter the water supply.
At the time of the Palisades Fire, the necessary remediation work had not been completed and the reservoir remained empty, leaving firefighters with “little or no” water to put out the fire, the lawsuit says. It continues.
“LADWP made a conscious decision not to repair the Santa Ynez Reservoir cap in a timely manner and to leave the reservoir empty and unusable, all as a ‘cost-cutting’ measure,” the lawyers said. claim.
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A helicopter drops water on the Palisades Fire in Mandeville Canyon in Los Angeles on Saturday, January 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power said in the complaint that the official purpose of draining the reservoir and leaving it empty was “to solicit bids from contractors rather than using in-house personnel” to repair the reservoir. is stated.
“The extent of the damage caused by the Palisades Fire far exceeded the benefits that could have been realized by outsourcing and delaying repairs to the Santa Ynez Reservoir,” attorneys representing fire survivors argue.
California Governor Gavin Newsom on January 10 ordered LADWP to conduct an independent investigation into the loss of water pressure and intentional closure of the reservoir, calling it a “very alarming incident,” according to court records.
Newsom added that the loss of water pressure “may have compromised” firefighters' ability to protect homes and evacuation areas in the Pacific Palisades.
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Flames and smoke rise from a building as the Palisades Fire burns during a rainstorm on the west side of Los Angeles, California, USA, on January 8, 2025. (Reuters/Chiu Ringo)
Los Angeles Fire Department Lt. Eric Scott said “there were challenges with water pressure while fighting the Pacific Palisades Fire,” and the water pressure “was not what we needed,” the documents state.
The lawyers went on to say that despite the National Weather Service's “dire warning” of “severe fire weather” with the potential for “rapid fire spread and extreme fire behavior,” LADWP They claim they were unprepared for the Palisades fire.
“LADWP had a duty to properly construct, inspect, maintain, and operate its water supply system. LADWP breached these duties,” the complaint alleges.
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Firefighters monitor progress on the Palisades Fire in Mandeville Canyon, Saturday, January 11, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Pacific Palisades residents are suing the utility company for property damage and personal injuries.
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“The Palisades Fire was a traumatic event for the victims, who went from homeowners to homeless within hours through no fault of their own,” the attorneys wrote. It added that at least eight people were killed and injured in the fire. Many civilians and firefighters were killed, and at least 5,300 homes and businesses were destroyed in the Pacific Palisades, Malibu, and Topanga Canyon.
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and Mr. Newsom's office did not respond to requests for comment.
