Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA) is under fire for comments he made during an ABC interview about a critical water reservoir issue in Pacific Palisades. The inactive reservoir, with a capacity of 117 million gallons, could have played a significant role in battling Los Angeles wildfires but has been offline for nearly a year. Critics blame the state’s mismanagement for its prolonged inactivity.
During the fires, many hydrants ran dry, leaving firefighters struggling to contain the flames. When asked about this by an ABC anchor, Schiff was pressed on whether the inactive reservoir played a role. The anchor asked, “Was there something to do with that 117 million-gallon reservoir in the Palisades that was out of operation? What’s your understanding? What’s your initial read on this?”
Schiff responded cautiously, stating, “Well, my initial take—and I certainly want a full review of this so I can better understand the matter—is that the smaller reservoirs serving the area were full when the fires started.” He referred to the 3-million-gallon reservoirs that supply the Palisades but added that their capacity might not have been enough to combat fires of such magnitude.
“These smaller reservoirs are meant to put out a few homes, not an entire town ablaze,” Schiff explained. “And with hurricane-force winds reaching 100 miles per hour, aircraft couldn’t fly to perform water drops, which made the situation worse from the start.”
Despite his explanation, critics were quick to point out inconsistencies. A conservative social media account, I Meme Therefore I Am, shared a clip of Schiff’s interview, accusing him of misleading the public. “Adam Schiff appeared on national television and misled the American public once again, asserting that the reservoirs ‘were full at the initiation of these fires,’” the post claimed.
The post included a screenshot of an NBC News article titled “Reservoir in Pacific Palisades was out of commission when fires started,” which directly contradicted Schiff’s statement. It also revealed that the Santa Ynez Reservoir had been closed for repairs since February, leaving the massive storage facility empty during a critical time.
Governor Gavin Newsom has since called for an investigation into why the reservoir remained offline for so long. The issue highlights broader concerns about California’s wildfire preparedness and resource management.
Critics argue that the situation underscores a failure to prioritize essential infrastructure in a state frequently battling wildfires. As the investigation unfolds, many are calling for greater accountability to ensure such lapses don’t leave communities vulnerable in the future.
