Councilwoman seeks to hold leaders responsible for dry reservoirs in fire-stricken district.

A Los Angeles council member, whose district has been severely affected by the recent historic wildfires, is calling for accountability from city and state officials regarding the empty reservoirs that hindered firefighting efforts. This raises concerns about the city's readiness to host world-stage events in the near future.

Council member Traci Park stated in a Monday interview with Planet Chronicle Digital that the current fire in Los Angeles was unlike any they had seen before, and it is no secret that they have consistently underfunded critical infrastructure and public safety in the city.

She stated that there are many questions about what could have been done differently or what more could have been done to prevent the current situation, and what it will take to ensure it doesn't happen again in Los Angeles.

The wildfires that occurred in the Los Angeles mountains last week raised concerns about faulty fire hydrants and substantial cuts to the fire department's budget.

On Friday, Gov. Gavin Newsom called for an independent investigation of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power to examine the water supply problems that occurred during the emergency.

The lack of water pressure at local fire hydrants and the unavailability of water supplies from the Santa Ynez Reservoir during the fires are concerning to me and the community, as stated in a letter to LADWP Chief Executive Officer and Chief Engineer Janisse Quiñones and L.A. County Public Works Director Mark Pestrella.

Meanwhile, Democratic lawmakers defended state leadership.

Park, whose district includes the Pacific Palisades, where the wildfires first and fiercely struck, expressed many concerns about the water.

"I was at the command post at Will Rogers during the volcanic eruption that devastated our town and reached the Pacific Coast Highway. Throughout the night, I heard anecdotal accounts of our firefighters struggling to fight the fire due to a lack of water. I believe we all have questions about the expectations for our firefighters and how they can effectively fight fires without the necessary resource, which is water."

Park, who collects critical aid at her Westchester neighborhood office for her constituents, expressed concern about disaster preparedness as Los Angeles prepares to host the 2026 World Cup and the 2028 Olympic Games.

"Park expressed concern about our level of preparation for events before the wildfires. He believes that the gaps in our preparation have been exposed over the past few days."

Despite expressing gratitude for Newsom and his support at the state level, as well as county and Cal Fire partners, it is clear that the city has a lot of work to do in terms of strategic planning to prepare for the millions of people hosting big events.

The fire department's budget in Los Angeles was cut by nearly $18 million in the months before the wildfires, according to the department.

The state's outdated water reserves system is also being criticized by experts and lawmakers at the state level, in addition to the top leaders' handling of forestry management. California's existing reservoirs have limited capacity and were constructed in the mid-20th century.

In 2024, the state experienced record-breaking rainfall due to an atmospheric river event, but the existing water infrastructure struggled to manage the sudden influx of water. As a result, a significant portion of that rainfall was dumped into the ocean.

Despite the passage of Proposition 1 in 2014, which authorized $2.7 billion in bonds for water storage capacity expansion, no new reservoirs have been completed under the act, according to local reports.