The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power is facing mounting legal pressure following the devastating Palisades Fire, with residents alleging negligence in managing the Santa Ynez Reservoir during the blaze. The LADWP has responded by hiring a top law firm to defend against anticipated lawsuits.
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power ( LADWP ) has engaged a prominent law firm, charging nearly $2,000 per hour, to represent it in anticipated lawsuits stemming from the Palisades Fire . Residents are alleging the LADWP 's negligence in managing the Santa Ynez Reservoir , which was nearly empty during the fire. Despite warnings about dry conditions and abundant flammable brush, the reservoir, holding 117 million gallons, was undergoing maintenance last month.
While the LADWP did implement some preventative measures, such as mowing grass on its property in residential areas, residents argue that the lack of water availability hindered firefighters' efforts to effectively combat the blaze. The fire, which devoured approximately 24,000 acres, destroyed thousands of homes in the Palisades area. Further east in Los Angeles County, the Eaton Fire also ravaged 14,000 acres, highlighting widespread water shortages that impacted firefighting operations. Several prominent residents, including reality television personalities Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag, have already filed lawsuits against the LADWP, directly blaming the utility for the wildfire's spread to their properties. These lawsuits are likely to be among the first of many as the full extent of the damage caused by the Palisades Fire becomes clearer
Palisades Fire LADWP Lawsuits Santa Ynez Reservoir Water Shortage
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