The Ridiculous Reason California Won't Use Sea Water to Put Out Fires
After nearly two weeks of intense firefighting, Los Angeles officials announced on Friday that progress was finally being made in containing the devastating wildfires that have ravaged Southern California.
Firefighters expressed optimism, describing the situation as seeing “the light at the end of the tunnel.” According to The Wall Street Journal, the two largest fires have not expanded in recent days. By early Friday, the Palisades fire was reported to be 31% contained, while the Altadena fire was 65% under control. However, the scale of destruction remains staggering: over 12,000 structures have been damaged or destroyed, 40,000 acres burned, 27 lives lost, and 31 individuals still unaccounted for, according to The New York Post.
As the flames subside, it is essential to assess the underlying factors that contributed to the scale of this disaster. Among the various issues, one stands out as particularly puzzling—why seawater wasn’t utilized to combat the fires despite its proximity to the affected areas.
Janisse Quiñones, CEO of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, highlighted a critical challenge early in the crisis. She explained that low water pressure in three million-gallon tanks hindered efforts to fight the Palisades blaze.
Speaking to The Los Angeles Daily News, Quiñones reported that the first tank, holding about one million gallons, ran out of water at 4:45 p.m. Tuesday. The second tank was depleted by 8:30 p.m., and the third by early Wednesday morning.
“This fire has pushed the system to its extreme,” Quiñones said, urging residents to conserve water as resources were being stretched thin. “We’re fighting a wildfire with urban water systems, and that is really challenging.”
However, the question remains: why not use saltwater from the Pacific Ocean, which is just a stone’s throw from the Palisades fire?
The answer lies in environmental and logistical concerns, though under the circumstances, these reasons may not be compelling enough.
Michael Gollner, a fire scientist from the University of California, Berkeley, told the Journal that while saltwater and freshwater perform similarly in extinguishing fires, seawater can lead to salinization of the soil. This process increases salt levels in the ground, which inhibits plant growth and reduces soil fertility.
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization notes that salinization can hinder roots from absorbing water and disrupt nutrient movement through the soil, potentially harming salt-sensitive plant species like boxwood and dogwood trees.
Tim Chavez, a former Cal Fire assistant chief, explained, “If you add salt to the soil, you’re not going to be able to grow anything there the next year.” Additionally, saltwater can corrode firefighting equipment, including hoses, pumps, and hydrants.
While these concerns are valid, the scale of the disaster may outweigh them. The financial cost of the wildfires is estimated at $250 billion to $275 billion, according to KTLA-TV. Entire neighborhoods have been reduced to ash, and dozens of lives have been lost.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna described the destruction vividly: “If you haven’t been out there, it literally looks like a bomb dropped. There are areas right now that we have to hold people away from so our people can do their job appropriately.”
Given the stakes, wouldn’t the temporary damage to soil and infrastructure from saltwater be preferable to the massive destruction and loss of life? Replacing corroded equipment is undoubtedly cheaper than rebuilding entire communities.
Furthermore, there are existing methods to mitigate soil salinization. According to a 2020 article in the Purdue University Landscape Report, one way is to irrigate the soil deeply with fresh water, which can leach out accumulated salts. Another, more effective method, is adding gypsum (calcium sulfate) to the soil. Gypsum reacts with sodium to form sodium sulfate, which can be easily leached away, while the leftover calcium improves soil structure and aeration.
In light of these solutions, the refusal to use seawater raises questions about priorities and decision-making. Coupled with other concerns, including diversity and equity policies in the Los Angeles Fire Department and leadership failures from officials like Governor Gavin Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass, this is yet another example of poor judgment in the face of a crisis.
Angelenos and taxpayers deserve accountability. Once the fires are fully under control, explanations must be provided, and officials must take responsibility for the series of decisions—such as rejecting readily available water sources—that exacerbated the impact of this disaster.