First responders are hard at work combating the devastating Los Angeles wildfires, while many members of the public question what could have caused the fires and if policy missteps hampered firefighting efforts. Kathryn Sorensen, who ran water and wastewater utilities for two major Arizona cities, says there are key facts about our water system that need to be understood.

“Municipal water utility systems really are not designed to fight large-scale wildfires,” Sorensen told Fox News. “They are designed with enough storage to meet demands under normal operating conditions and to fight a couple of relatively localized structure fires of a relatively short duration.”

Sorensen acknowledged that there are valid discussions to be had about the capacity of our current water systems and how they are used.

“If we’re looking at a hotter, drier future, then we probably do need to take a look at these reservoirs, at their capacities, at their operational priorities, at how we’re moving that water and for what purpose, and rethink that.”  

An aerial view of beachside homes destroyed in the Palisades Fire along Pacific Coast Highway as wildfires cause damage and loss throughout the LA region on Jan. 16, 2025 in Malibu, California.  ( Mario Tama/Getty Images)

On Friday morning, Cal Fire reported that over 40,600 acres had been burned, and more than 12,300 structures were destroyed in the fires. At least 27 people were confirmed to have been killed in the blaze, though that number could rise as dozens are still missing.