Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA) recently faced criticism for a misleading statement made during an interview on ABC concerning the controversy surrounding a non-operational water reservoir in the Palisades, which had the capacity to hold 117 million gallons of water. Analysts have noted that this reservoir could have served as a crucial resource in combating the wildfires in Los Angeles, yet they attribute the failure to maintain it to the California government.
During the early stages of the fire, reports indicated that fire hydrants in Los Angeles were completely depleted, hindering firefighting efforts. When an ABC anchor inquired about this situation, he asked Schiff, “Why did so many of those fire hydrants simply run dry?” He connected this issue to the inactive reservoir, questioning, “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?”
In response, Schiff 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.” He then asserted that the reservoirs were “full” at the onset of the fires. “But my initial understanding is the reservoirs that the Palisades were drawing on, these 3 million-gallon reservoirs, were full at the initiation of these fires,” he explained.
He further suggested that the reservoirs might not have been significantly beneficial given the scale of the fires. The California Democrat remarked, “But they’re intended, frankly, they have the capacity to put out homes that maybe house multiple houses, not if the whole town is up in flames, and most particularly, not if the winds are so strong that aircraft can’t fly.”
“This was the problem from the very beginning,” he continued. “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. I have to think there are probably hundreds of towns in California, thousands…”
Users swiftly challenged Schiff’s assertion on social media, presenting an alternative perspective. The well-known conservative account I Meme Therefore I Am shared the video clip, stating, “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.’”
Accompanying Schiff’s remarks was a screenshot of an NBC News article that contradicted his claims. The article was titled, “Reservoir in Pacific Palisades was out of commission when fires started.” In response, Governor Gavin Newsom has called for an investigation into the factors contributing to the water supply issues in Los Angeles.
I Meme Therefore I Am further noted, “A simple Google search indicates that there is an ongoing investigation into the reasons behind the Pacific Palisades reservoir being offline. Furthermore, it reveals that the Santa Ynez Reservoir has been closed since February for cover repairs, resulting in the 117-million-gallon water storage facility being empty in the heart of the Palisades for nearly a year.”
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