Senator Adam Schiff Faces Backlash Over Controversial Remarks on LA Wildfires and Reservoir Maintenance

In the midst of the devastating wildfires that recently swept through Los Angeles, Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA) found himself at the center of a heated controversy.

During an interview on ABC News, Schiff made statements regarding the role of an inactive reservoir in the Pacific Palisades, which many have since criticized as misleading and potentially damaging. The reservoir, capable of holding a staggering 117 million gallons of water, has been a focal point for those arguing that its maintenance could have provided crucial resources for firefighting efforts. Critics have directed their frustration toward California’s government, accusing it of neglecting essential infrastructure that could have mitigated the disaster’s impact.

Schiff’s Interview on ABC

The tension surrounding the wildfires was palpable, especially when reports emerged highlighting that numerous fire hydrants across Los Angeles were devoid of water. This shortage severely hindered firefighters’ ability to combat the blazes effectively. During an ABC interview, Senator Schiff was directly questioned about this issue. The interviewer pressed him for clarity, asking, “Why did so many of those fire hydrants simply run dry? 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’s response aimed to downplay the connection between the dry hydrants and the inactive reservoir. He stated, “Well, my initial take, and I certainly want a full review of this so that I can form a more complete understanding of the matter,” before adding, “the reservoirs that the Palisades were drawing on, these 3 million-gallon reservoirs, were full at the initiation of these fires.” He continued to argue that even if the reservoir had been operational, its capacity might not have significantly impacted the firefighting efforts due to the fires’ scale and intensity. “They’re intended, frankly, to put out homes that house maybe multiple families, not to extinguish an entire town if it’s up in flames,” Schiff explained. He emphasized the formidable challenges posed by hurricane-force winds, noting, “The winds were hurricane-force, reaching up to 100 miles per hour; you can’t fly in that, and you depend on being able to do water drops to extinguish those kinds of flames.”

Social Media Reacts

Senator Schiff’s remarks quickly drew backlash from various corners, particularly from conservative circles and concerned citizens. Social media became a battleground for opinions, with many accusing Schiff of misleading the public. A prominent conservative account, “I Meme Therefore I Am,” shared a clip of Schiff’s interview, asserting, “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.’”

Further fueling the criticism, the account referenced a screenshot from an NBC News article titled “Reservoir in Pacific Palisades Was Out of Commission When Fires Started.” This article revealed that the Santa Ynez Reservoir, a 117-million-gallon water storage facility, had been offline for nearly a year due to necessary cover repairs. The reservoir had been empty since February, creating a critical gap in the water supply during the wildfire crisis. This revelation directly contradicted Schiff’s assertion that the reservoirs were full at the onset of the fires.