As a number of wildfires burn in Southern California, together with the Palisades Fireplace in Los Angeles, authorities have made the uncommon transfer of scooping up ocean water to assist battle the flames.
Saltwater can harm gear, infrastructure and wildlife — however typically firefighters want to make use of it anyway, in accordance with Frank Papalia, a former New York Metropolis Fireplace Division captain and a hearth security professional at International Safety Group.
“When somebody falls down, will get damage, presumably broke their neck or one thing like that, you do not transfer them. [But] if there is a hearth round them, or there are chemical compounds round them and stuff, they’re gonna die. So it’s a must to transfer them — you haven’t any alternative,” he instructed Fox Information Digital.
ESSENTIAL PHONE NUMBERS FOR LOS ANGELES-AREA RESIDENTS AND HOW YOU CAN HELP THEM
A home is seen on hearth as residents attempt to escape the location in Pacific Palisades, California, on Tuesday. (Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu by way of Getty Photographs)
The principle approach to make use of saltwater to battle fires is to attract it out of the ocean with a airplane or helicopter and dump it from above, he mentioned.
That is already being carried out in Southern California, the place massive wildfires have been burning uncontrolled, video reveals. However one airplane was taken out of service already after somebody flew a drone into its wing. The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating, and a spokesperson instructed Fox Information Digital that interfering with firefighters is a federal crime punishable by as much as a yr in jail and a $75,000 superb.
Firefighters battle the Palisades Fireplace because it burns a number of constructions within the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles on Tuesday. (AP Picture/Ethan Swope)
Whereas saltwater can harm infrastructure, kill wildlife and produce other penalties, typically it is a needed trade-off, Papalia mentioned.
“On this case, your metropolis is burning to the bottom, so utilizing the saltwater is just not that dangerous,” he instructed Fox Information Digital. “The issue is they’re restricted to what number of plane they’ll fly at one time, how far they need to go, and the way a lot water these can maintain. You could not fly yesterday due to the wind.”
PALISADES FIRE: HEIDI MONTAG, SPENCER PRATT LOSE HOME; CELEBRITIES FLEE RITZY NEIGHBORHOOD
A Tremendous Scooper airplane drops water on the Palisades Fireplace in Pacific Palisades, California, on Tuesday. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Occasions by way of Getty Photographs)
Present hearth hydrants do not use saltwater for a number of causes. They use the identical pipes supplying recent faucet water to houses and companies. They don’t seem to be corrosion-resistant. And the price of putting in a brand new saltwater hydrant system related to ocean pumps “could be ridiculous,” Papalia mentioned.
Fireplace hydrants additionally depend on strain, which is misplaced with every hydrant open on the identical time.
LOS ANGELES WILDFIRES: AUTHORITIES BATTLING LOOTERS ON TOP OF BLAZES
However the firetrucks themselves can use saltwater — they only need to be shut sufficient to get it and require thorough cleansing afterward.
“Now we have them at JFK,” Papalia mentioned concerning the airport in New York Metropolis. “We pump the water out of Jamaica Bay. For those who’re gonna do this on the seaside, how are you gonna get the firetruck into the sand?”
The Eaton Fireplace burns a car in Altadena, California, on Wednesday. (Ethan Swope/AP)
PACIFIC PALISADES INFERNO FORCES THOUSANDS TO FLEE CALIFORNIA HOMES; GOV. NEWSOM DECLARES STATE OF EMERGENCY
No less than 10 individuals have died within the fires throughout Southern California, in accordance with authorities, and Los Angeles Sheriff Robert Luna mentioned he expects the loss of life toll to rise. Greater than 130,000 individuals have been ordered to evacuate their houses.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s workplace mentioned the state was sending greater than 7,500 firefighters and help personnel to help Los Angeles as fires proceed to rage.
A firefighter battles flames from the Eaton Fireplace in Altadena, California, on Wednesday. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Occasions by way of Getty Photographs)
Neighboring states, together with Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Utah and New Mexico, have additionally despatched firefighting property.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“There is not any query that is gonna be one of many worst fires within the historical past of the world,” Papalia mentioned.
#Los #Angeles #fires #Saltwater #fight #flames #advantages #longterm #dangers
https://static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content material/uploads/2025/01/los-angeles-fire-.jpg
