Eaton Fire: One Year Later, Victims Still Question Lack of Water Supply

Unanswered Questions About Water Shortage

• ❓ One year after the Eaton Fire, victims like the Child's family are still seeking answers about the lack of water pressure and dry fire hydrants.
• 🏠 The Child's family home, owned for 42 years, was threatened by flames, but firefighters struggled to connect to hydrants that had no water.
• 💧 Residents used contents from their refrigerators, like chicken broth, in a desperate attempt to save their homes due to the inadequate water supply.

Water Company Response and Challenges

• 🗣️ KTLA has repeatedly sought interviews with the three water companies serving Altadena (Lincoln Avenue, Las Flores, and Rubio Canyon) for months, but received no direct comments.
• ⚖️ Attorneys representing Lincoln Avenue and Rubio Canyon stated the companies cannot comment due to ongoing litigation related to the Eaton Fire.
• 🏢 Offices for Rubio Canyon and Las Flores were closed, and the general manager at Lincoln Water Company was unavailable.

Infrastructure and Future Concerns

• 🚒 Residents fear that if another fire occurs, the water systems will fail again, questioning the adequacy of infrastructure for community conflagrations.
• 💡 A former fire chief suggests that domestic water systems are not designed to keep up with widespread fires and that infrastructure needs upgrading.
• 🤝 There's a hope that water districts will recognize the need to consolidate and build infrastructure to support the community.

Private Mutual Water Companies and System Risks

• 👥 Altadena is served by private mutual water companies, where residents are shareholders, offering a say in operations but limiting access to traditional capital and financing for system upgrades.
• 📈 LA County has over 200 water companies, many small and considered at-risk, highlighting a broader issue of ensuring water delivery reliability.
• ⚠️ Water companies are evaluated by the State Water Resources Control Board for their ability to serve communities, with