Monday, November 17

Water pressure hampered Yorba Linda fire fight | L.A. Now | Los Angeles Times

Water pressure hampered Yorba Linda fire fight | L.A. Now | Los Angeles Times


Orange County Fire Capt. Bill Lockhart said the fire crew he was working with Saturday afternoon in Yorba Linda had difficulties with water pressure.

On Fairmont Boulevard about 5 p.m. Saturday, he said, "We had a 'dry hydrant', where we hooked up to it and nothing came out." So the crew moved along to the next available hydrant, which worked. "It delayed things a bit, but we were able to make it happen," he said.

Speaking to a resident of Big Horn Mountain Way, whose Yorba Linda home was destroyed and who voiced concerns about reports of poor water pressure, Lockhart also gave a general explanation of the problem.

"Typically the pressure is good if we're fighting a fire at one single family home," he said. "But when we have a profound incident, when there's multiple demands, not everything works right."

Lockhart said calling the local water district would also reveal what sort of water pressure problems they were dealing with Saturday.

--Tony Barboza