The Santa Ynez Reservoir in Pacific Palisades, a significant part of the Los Angeles water supply system, was empty for repairs during the fire that destroyed thousands of homes, say reports.
"Incompetence costs lives," said Elon Musk in a Friday X post.
"This is criminal," independent journalist Nick Sortor added. "The reservoir holds 117 million gallons of water, and would’ve given firefighters ample pressure to effectively fight the blaze."
Los Angeles Fire Department spokesperson Erik Scott said the empty reservoir was, "a significant factor in our water supply strategy. With the reservoir dry, we had to rely on other water sources, which were stretched thin."
Los Angeles Department of Water and Power officials must now admit the dry reservoir contributed to dry fire hydrants and low water pressure, noted Sortor.
"Firefighters battling the blaze in Pacific Palisades were met with an unexpected challenge, the Santa Ynez Reservoir, which is supposed to be one of the main water sources for the area, was completely dry due to ongoing maintenance," said an ABC7 Los Angeles news report.
As of Friday afternoon, several fires in Los Angeles were still burning, although some have seen progress in containment.
The primary water source for the Santa Ynez Reservoir is the Los Angeles Aqueduct, which transports water from the Owens Valley in the Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains to Los Angeles.
The reservoir can also receive water from local runoff and possibly from other sources.
The possibility of the City of Los Angeles being sued for the empty Santa Ynez Reservoir involves several legal considerations.
A case could potentially be made for negligence if it can be demonstrated the decision to drain the reservoir for repairs was unreasonably timed or managed, especially if there was a foreseeable risk of wildfires in the area, says analysts.
The city has a duty to maintain its water infrastructure, including reservoirs, to ensure public safety, they added — noting residents would need to prove the empty reservoir directly led to damages, such as the inability to fight the fire effectively.
