Former NASCAR star Danica Patrick wondered why water was a problem for firefighters and first responders called to battle the raging California wildfires this week.
Several wildfires appeared across the Los Angeles area on Tuesday and into Wednesday, fueled by the strong winds that plagued the region. The widespread flames immediately strain the water system in the city, according to FOX Weather.
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A firefighter works as the Palisades Fire burns a house on the hill next to the Getty Villa on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Pacific Palisades, California. (AP Photo/Etienne Laurent)
Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) CEO and Chief Engineer Janisse Quiñones said Wednesday crews have been struggling to maintain water pressure on the system, which allows water to be pushed into hydrants used by firefighters.
“The stress that this fire put on the water system and the hydrants, they’re just not designed for that type of use at one time for 15 hours straight,” Los Angeles County Fire Captain Sheila Kelliher Berkoh told FOX Weather.
Patrick looked confused.
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Danica Patrick during the 102nd running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis on May 27, 2018. (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)
“California has 840 miles of coastline and 3,000 lakes and reservoirs. Why don’t they have enough water to fix all the fires?” She wrote on X.
“At some point, I imagine it’s going to be hard for hardcore Cali lovers to accept the state of their state and how it’s run.”
She then wrote that it would be time for Gov. Gavin Newsom to resign, only using the term “Newscum,” as President-elect Donald Trump has done in his jabs at the California leader.
On Wednesday night, another fire broke out in the Hollywood Hills near the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Los Angeles Fire Department Captain Sheila Kelliher described the burned hillsides as “dramatic and apocalyptic” in an interview with Pakinomist.
A house burns in the Eaton fire in Altadena, Calif., Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)
Kelliher said she saw winds “whipping up to 70, 80, even 100 miles per hour,” further fanning the flames.
