Lawsuit Alleges LADWP Negligence in Palisades Fire Ignition and Water Shortages

New legal claims accuse the utility of concealing the role of energized power lines and draining reservoirs critical for firefighting during Los Angeles' deadliest wildfire.

• A new lawsuit claims downed LADWP power lines were a second ignition point for the Palisades fire, contradicting earlier statements by the utility.
• The LADWP admitted last week that the implicated power line was energized at the time of the fire, reversing its prior claim that it had been de-energized for years.
• The suit alleges LADWP attempted to cover up its role in the fire by initially providing false information about the power line's status.
• Insufficient water supplies due to empty reservoirs, reportedly drained for maintenance, are cited as a major factor in the fire's devastation.
• Governor Gavin Newsom has ordered an independent investigation into LADWP's water management practices, while federal agencies continue to probe the fire's origins.

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Orange County Register