Santa Ynez Reservoir's Offline Status During Wildfire Hampers Firefighting, 5,300 Homes Destroyed

Jan 10, 2025, 06:15 PM

A large reservoir in Pacific Palisades, the Santa Ynez Reservoir, was offline and empty due to scheduled maintenance when a wildfire broke out, destroying over 5,300 homes. The reservoir, which holds 117 million gallons of water, was closed for repairs to its cover, contributing to diminished water pressure and dry hydrants in the area during the fire. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (DWP) noted that the system was not designed for such an intense wildfire scenario, and even if the reservoir had been operational, it would have only temporarily extended water pressure. The maintenance was necessary to comply with water quality regulations, and the reservoir was scheduled to reopen in February.