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An interesting commentary by President Biden about a lack of power to pump the water in Pacific Palisades went largely unnoticed but a bill in Sacramento addresses this issue.
Rather than the Ventura County Board of Supervisors addressing backup energy for fire suppression the State Assembly legislators representing Ventura County took up the task and brought it to the attention of the whole assembly but the legislation is specific to Ventura County.
An act to add Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 7080) to Division 4 of the Water Code, relating to water.
Bill Title: Water: County of Ventura: fire suppression.
Introduced by Assembly Member Bennett February 03, 2025
(Principal coauthor: Assembly Member Irwin)
(Coauthor: Assembly Member Harabedian)
(Coauthor: Senator Limón)
This bill would, beginning July 1, 2027, require a water supplier that supplies water that is used for the suppression of fire in either a high or very high fire hazard severity zone to more than 20 total residential dwellings that is used for the suppression of fire in either a high or very high risk fire hazard severity zone, as provided, in those zones in the County of Ventura to have access to sufficient backup energy
Additional requirements of the Ventura County Fire Department:
- By January 1, 2027... shall develop minimum fire safety standards, in consultation with water suppliers, for the purpose of fire hardening critical wells, water pumps, and generators located in the high or very high fire hazard severity zone
- Annually inspect facilities that provide water pursuant to subdivision (a) critical wells, water pumps, and generators located in the high or very high fire hazard severity zone to ensure critical water infrastructure and backup energy sources serving located in high or very high fire hazard zones, as determined by the State Fire Marshal pursuant to Section 51178 of the Government Code, severity zones meet fire safety standards developed by the Ventura County Fire Department.
- By January 1, 2027...shall develop fire safety standards for critical water infrastructure and backup energy sources serving high or very high fire hazard severity zones, as determined by the State Fire Marshal pursuant to Section 51178 of the Government Code
- Annually inspect critical wells, water pumps, and generators serving the high or very high fire hazard severity zone, but not located within the zone, to ensure functionality.
Bill Text - AB-367 Water: County of Ventura: fire suppression.
Amended IN Assembly
- May 05, 2025
- April 21, 2025
- March 28, 2025
Explanations or Alibis for Dry Fire Hydrants | San Fernando Valley News Portal
1/8/25: President Biden
"What I know from talking to the governor is that there are concerns out there that there's also been a water shortage. The fact is, the utilities understandably shut off power because they're worried the lines that they carried energy were going to be blown down and spark additional fires, but the Cal fire, and when it did that, it cut off the ability to generate pumping the water. That's what caused the lack of water in these hydrants. And so Cal Fire is bringing in generators to get these pumps up and working again so that they're no longer a shortage of water coming out of these hydrants." 4 minute mark. User Clip: Power Shut Off in Pacific Palisades | C-SPAN.org
Entire Presidential Brief: https://www.c-span.org/program/white-house-event/president-biden-briefs-on-california-wildfires-response/654251
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