KCAL News investigation finds more than 1,300 fire hydrants need maintenance across LA
A KCAL News investigation has found that there are possibly hundreds of fire hydrants across the Los Angeles area that need maintenance or repair.
The information comes in the wake of the devastating Palisades and Eaton fires in January, which destroyed tens of thousands of buildings and killed more than two dozen people.
In the days following the Palisades Fire response from local fire departments, questions were raised over whether there was enough water to assist firefighters, sparking outcry from the public. Now, the investigation finds that there were problems with several hydrants in the Pacific Palisades and questions about many more spanning throughout the city.
Firefighters are tasked with inspecting every single hydrant, reporting to the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power when they need repair. However, some that were flagged about a year ago were still broken when the fires broke out — including several within the Palisades Fire burn area.
KCAL News Senior Reporter Ross Palombo found that there may be a systemic issue that could possibly date back years.
Bob Sanders, a resident in the Pacific Palisades returned to his home after the fires to find it still standing but the rest of his neighborhood was not so lucky.
Returning to his devasted community was one thing but then hearing from a firefighter that they ran out of water was another.
It never dawned on him that a fire hydrant that is there to provide water, was actually known to have an issue.
"That's it… that just inexcusable to say we know there's a failure, we know this hydrant isn't working, we're just going to leave it," Sanders said.
Records obtained by KCAL News from the Los Angeles Fire Department show that one of the hydrants in Sanders' neighborhood, number 40008, was inspected by the LAFD and listed as "needs repair" all the way back on Feb. 29, 2024. That was nearly an entire year before the fires.
Retired Battalion Chief Rick Crawford said he saw these inspections happen like clockwork every year during his 33 years with the LAFD. Crawford explained the hydrants are tested every year.
"It's critical to get those repaired immediately… shouldn't take one day, one week, let alone one year," Crawford said. "Hydrants is the lifeline the lifeblood of firefighting."
Last year, firefighters said they inspected 65,979 hydrants and then submitted a list. KCAL News obtained that list from Aug. 5 to LADWP for action.
The firefighters said about 1,350 hydrants needed further inspection or repairs. In the Palisades alone, 11 city hydrants were marked for repair before the fire broke out. All but one of those was in or immediately adjacent to the fire zone.
KCAL News questioned LADWP's Chief Executive Officer Janisse Quinones if there had been any issues with the hydrants before the fire.
"We had no notifications of any fire hydrants not working prior to the event," she said.
When asked if there were any outstanding service orders on a single hydrant in that area she said, "No, not that we know."
In fact, her staff said the LAFD submitted zero hydrants for repair in 2024. They added that the report they received on Aug. 5 did not clearly label any hydrants as specifically needing repairs according to their protocols, only "needing inspection."
Palombo asked Mayor Karen Bass how the issue could have happened and she said her office is looking into it.
"I'm hearing conflicting stories, but we will get to the bottom of it," Bass said.
Sanders realizes broken hydrants are rare but believes repairs on them shouldn't be.
"I mean I'm shocked and there is no excuse for that and there is no question this will lead to increased losses," Sanders said.
KCAL News took a look at the spreadsheet the LAFD claims it sent to the LADWP. There are some inconsistencies that the fire department did not fully explain, Palombo reported.
A full map of LA city fire hydrants in need of repair can be seen here.
