Transcript:
In January, devastating wildfires destroyed more than 10,000 homes in Los Angeles. Firefighters strive to fight fires – In some areas, fire hydrants are dry.
Rumors and error messages rotate online. Then, President-elect Trump claimed that he was stationed in Northern California.
But Peter Gleick, co-founder of the nonprofit Pacific Institute, said the Los Angeles area doesn’t need more water.
Gleick: “There is a lot of water in the reservoirs in Southern California. The reservoirs are actually relatively full at this time of year.”
But the fires are so big and powerful that the city's water pipes, storage tanks and fire hydrants cannot keep up with the unprecedented demands of firefighters.
Gleick: “The urban water supply system is not to fight against huge wildfires at all. … The real challenge is just the huge range of fires, and the huge demand for water floods the system.”
Fires of this scale may become more common as warmer climates create hotter, drier conditions. At the same time, in many areas, water shortage is becoming increasingly serious.
So when California gets into these complex issues, Grick said it is important to recognize that misinformation can shift people from real solutions.
Report Credit: Sarah Kennedy/Chavobart Digital Media
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