It’s the kind of headline no one wants to read: Fire hydrants ran dry while battling the Palisades Fire.

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The rapid spread of the fire put the L.A. Department of Water and Power’s municipal system to the test.

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By 3 a.m. Wednesday, the last tank used to sustain water pressure in the area had run dry, officials reported.

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The news sparked outrage on social media and criticism from prominent figures, including Rick Caruso.

Officials stated that emergency teams typically depend more on air support, such as firefighting helicopters.

This approach reduces the strain on water tanks by drawing more water from alternative sources, such as above-ground reservoirs.

However, high winds and limited visibility have forced firefighting operations to be grounded, Pestrella explained.

Pierce noted that LADWP would have needed significantly larger water reserves readily available near potential wildfire locations.

Pierce remarked, “I’m not sure it would have made a difference with these types of wildfires, but it’s a possibility.”

Similar to the Mountain Fire incident, officials are urging LADWP users to conserve water.