"As firefighters waged a high-stakes battle against a raging inferno in Pacific Palisades last January, crews desperate for water ran into a series of problems, some that are still coming to light. As the inferno consumed homes Jan. 7, some hydrants ran dry in high-elevation areas, The Times has reported. The 117-million gallon Santa Ynez Reservior - long seen as a lifeline for the Palisades - was empty and undergoing repairs."
"Multiple firefighting divisions requested water tenders, both from the city and private sources. But there was a delay in asking for the city Emergency Management Department's support getting the trucks, the report states. Instead, the Incident Command Post looked for specialized tanker trucks that can also fight fire, known as tactical water tenders, through the Interagency Resource Ordering Capability system, which in turn puts the call out across Southern California."
Fire crews in Pacific Palisades faced severe water shortages during the January wildfire as some hydrants ran dry and the 117-million-gallon Santa Ynez Reservior was empty and under repair. Water pressure fell while the blaze spread, prompting firefighters to shut off supply to some homes to conserve. Multiple divisions requested water tenders from city and private sources, but delays occurred in seeking Emergency Management Department support. Incident Command sought tactical water tenders through the regional resource-ordering system, a slower process than using local assets. Lack of escort vehicles further delayed tankers from reaching neighborhood firelines.
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