Elderly residents of Malibu and Pacific Palisades, including a Holocaust survivor and former Navy pilot, are suing Los Angeles and its Department of Water and Power for negligence after a devastating wildfire destroyed their homes when an empty reservoir left firefighters without adequate water pressure.
At a Glance
- Residents aged 70+ from Pacific Palisades and Malibu are suing Los Angeles over a January wildfire that destroyed their homes
- The lawsuit claims the Santa Ynez Reservoir was nearly empty at the start of wildfire season, severely limiting water availability for firefighting
- Over 1,000 fire hydrants reportedly needed repair before the fire, hampering firefighting efforts
- Plaintiffs allege LADWP ignored wind warnings and kept electrical equipment energized, contributing to the fire’s spread
- Personal stories include Rachel Schwartz, a Holocaust survivor, and Kenneth Peterson, a former Navy pilot undergoing cancer treatment
Critical Infrastructure Failures Alleged
A group of elderly residents from Pacific Palisades and Malibu have filed a lawsuit against the city of Los Angeles and its Department of Water and Power (LADWP) following a January wildfire that destroyed their homes.
The plaintiffs, all 70 years or older, include vulnerable community members whose lives were upended by the disaster. At the heart of their complaint is the assertion that the Santa Ynez Reservoir, which can hold up to 117 million gallons of water, was left nearly empty at the start of wildfire season.
According to the legal filing, the depleted reservoir resulted in drastically reduced water pressure in nearby hydrants, severely hampering firefighting efforts when they were most critically needed.
Further compounding the issue, the lawsuit states that over 1,000 hydrants throughout the affected areas required repair before the fire but remained in disrepair. These infrastructure failures allegedly left firefighters without adequate resources to combat the rapidly spreading flames.
Ignored Warnings and Operational Negligence
The lawsuit doesn’t stop at infrastructure failures. Plaintiffs contend that LADWP officials disregarded severe wind warnings that preceded the disaster. Despite these red flags, the power company allegedly kept electrical equipment energized throughout dangerous conditions—a decision that plaintiffs argue directly contributed to igniting and spreading the wildfire. This combination of empty water reservoirs and active electrical equipment created what the lawsuit describes as a perfect storm for catastrophic property damage.
“All of that taken together makes the city, including DWP, culpable for the harms that the clients have suffered – losing their homes and all of their valuable possessions. This could have been prevented.”, said Crystal Nix-Hines.
The legal action specifically targets compensation for property loss rather than emotional distress, as the city maintains immunity against the latter type of claim. However, the lawsuit notably includes Malibu residents who argue that Los Angeles’s actions contributed to the fire’s spread beyond city limits into their coastal community. The city has already contracted an external law firm to defend against the growing number of lawsuits stemming from the fire.
Personal Stories of Loss and Displacement
Behind the legal arguments are deeply personal stories of loss. Rachel Schwartz, a Holocaust survivor, lost her home and cherished belongings in the blaze. Kenneth Peterson, a former U.S. Navy pilot undergoing cancer treatment, was similarly displaced. These elderly residents now face the daunting prospect of rebuilding their lives at an advanced age. Their narratives underscore the human cost behind the alleged institutional failures that led to the destruction of their properties.
“The city’s conscious decisions to leave its reservoir dry and its power on are simply unforgivable.”, said Jeffrey Boozell.
In response to the disaster, Los Angeles County has allocated $3 million for soil testing in affected areas to check for contaminants like lead. Initial consultant reports have noted high lead concentrations in parts of Pacific Palisades, though some elements like arsenic may be naturally occurring.
The LADWP has not yet commented directly on the lawsuit, as the city attorney’s office reported it has not been formally served with the complaint. This legal action joins several others targeting both LADWP and Southern California Edison over their alleged roles in recent wildfires.
