Mel Gibson Shocked After Firefighter Reveals Early Water Shortage During LA Wildfires

Actor Mel Gibson was left stunned after learning that Los Angeles firefighters ran out of water early while battling the devastating wildfires that destroyed parts of the city, including his Malibu home. Gibson joined NewsNation for a ride-along with first responders to witness the destruction firsthand.

During the tour, a firefighter told Gibson that crews were unaware of the depleted water reservoirs. Gibson asked if firefighters had been informed that the reservoir was empty. The firefighter responded, “It’s not uncommon for us to lose water in our firefight. It’s just that early in the game was surprising.” Gibson, visibly surprised, replied, “Because yeah, it wasn’t there. And no one told you? That’s crazy.”

Much of the problem stemmed from the Santa Ynez Reservoir, a critical water source for the area, being shut down for repairs when the fires broke out. The closure meant the community was deprived of 117 million gallons of water during the critical time.

Gibson later visited what was left of his Malibu home. Although most of the property was destroyed, he expressed relief that his Academy Awards were stored elsewhere. Despite the loss, Gibson said he was choosing to focus on the future.

Previously, Gibson had questioned whether the fires might have been intentionally set to push people off valuable land. “It just seemed a little convenient that there was no water and the wind conditions were right,” he commented during a Fox News interview.

The wildfires have caused at least 25 deaths and displaced more than 180,000 residents in Los Angeles.