Private fire hydrants aid homeowners amid Los Angeles wildfires

As wildfires continue to devastate areas in Los Angeles, some homeowners have taken measures into their own hands by installing private fire hydrants. Brent Woodworth, a resident of Malibu Hills, utilized his personal hydrant and hoses to protect his home from the advancing flames. "The hydrant and pool pumped definitely helped," he noted, as his house and two neighboring homes survived intact while many others were lost.

In December, The Wall Street Journal reported on this trend among homeowners in wildfire-prone regions. These individuals hope that having personal firefighting equipment will assist city firefighters and potentially reduce home losses.

The fires in Los Angeles have resulted in at least 25 fatalities and significant property destruction. As concerns grow about the spread of these fires, Californians are actively seeking methods to safeguard their homes. Many contacted The Wall Street Journal for updates on how owners of private hydrants are faring.

Homeowners like Kevin B. Rosenbloom have implemented various defensive strategies including rooftop sprinklers and filling water containers as backup resources due to reports of public hydrants running dry. "It’s mentally stressful," Rosenbloom said about the ongoing threat.

Michael Owens has been staying vigilant at his Westlake Village property by emphasizing its fire-resistant features to potential buyers amid the ongoing crisis. Similarly, Dustin Khaleghi is prepared with a diesel generator powering a pump for his private water tank at a property he developed in Malibu.

Community fire brigades have also played an essential role during these wildfires. Matt Haines leads one such brigade in Corral Canyon, where they patrol neighborhoods around the clock ensuring readiness against any new fires. "It gives a sense of comfort to our community," Haines remarked.

Keegan Gibbs co-founded an official community brigade program with Woodworth after experiencing previous wildfire devastation firsthand. Drew Smith from the L.A. County Fire Department highlighted that these brigades help with evacuations and initial damage assessments but do not engage directly with advancing fire fronts.

Rosenbloom continues to monitor properties for friends while preparing his own home for potential threats ahead.