Why aren't firefighters using seawater to put out the California fires?

LA sits right on the shore of the world’s largest ocean — so why isn’t seawater being used to fight the deadly fires?
#breakingnews #californiawildfires #palisadesfire #losangelesfiredepartment

The use of seawater to extinguish the scorching Los Angeles fires seems like a straightforward solution, but the technique faces a variety of complications despite the fact that the city sits on the shores of the Pacific Ocean.

While firefighters have sparingly tapped into the natural resource, issues like lack of reliable access, significant environmental impact, and corrosive qualities are key roadblocks to oceanwater’s consistent use in fighting the current inferno.

Depending on an individual species' salt tolerance, soil salinization can negatively affect plants by leading to a reduction of plant water intake, according to Soil Science Australia.

Former assistant chief for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) and retired fire analyst Tim Chavez told the Wall Street Journal that firefighters try to avoid saltwater for this reason.

“We try to avoid it because saltwater is a soil sterilizer. If you add salt to the soil, you’re not going to be able to grow anything there the next year,” he said.

Los Angeles sits on America’s west coast, on the shores of the Pacific Ocean. Picture: Josh Edelson/AFP
Los Angeles sits on America’s west coast, on the shores of the Pacific Ocean. Picture: Josh Edelson/AFP
While the long-term effects of salt in the soil are not yet understood, the dry conditions typical of California’s climate may allow salt to remain in the soil, which some species can’t “tolerate,” ecosystem ecologist at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Centre Patrick Megonigal wrote in The Conversation.

He noted that the seawater being dumped on the LA fires is “full-strength, salty ocean water”.

“Our experiment found that salt was causing clay and other particles to disperse and move about in the soil. Such changes in soil chemistry and structure can persist for many years,” Mr Megonigal added.

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[newscomauhq]

LA sits right on the shore of the world’s largest ocean — so why isn’t seawater being used to fight the deadly fires?
#breakingnews #californiawildfires #palisadesfire #losangelesfiredepartment

The use of seawater to extinguish the scorching Los Angeles fires seems like a straightforward solution, but the technique faces a variety of complications despite the fact that the city sits on the shores of the Pacific Ocean.

While firefighters have sparingly tapped into the natural resource, issues like lack of reliable access, significant environmental impact, and corrosive qualities are key roadblocks to oceanwater’s consistent use in fighting the current inferno.

Depending on an individual species' salt tolerance, soil salinization can negatively affect plants by leading to a reduction of plant water intake, according to Soil Science Australia.

Former assistant chief for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) and retired fire analyst Tim Chavez told the Wall Street Journal that firefighters try to avoid saltwater for this reason.

“We try to avoid it because saltwater is a soil sterilizer. If you add salt to the soil, you’re not going to be able to grow anything there the next year, ” he said.

Los Angeles sits on America’s west coast, on the shores of the Pacific Ocean. Picture: Josh Edelson/AFP
Los Angeles sits on America’s west coast, on the shores of the Pacific Ocean. Picture: Josh Edelson/AFP
While the long-term effects of salt in the soil are not yet understood, the dry conditions typical of California’s climate may allow salt to remain in the soil, which some species can’t “tolerate, ” ecosystem ecologist at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Centre Patrick Megonigal wrote in The Conversation.

He noted that the seawater being dumped on the LA fires is “full-strength, salty ocean water”.

“Our experiment found that salt was causing clay and other particles to disperse and move about in the soil. Such changes in soil chemistry and structure can persist for many years, ” Mr Megonigal added.

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[DavidBirchall-tn]

So you are concerned about the environment from using salt water. Have you seen what is happening to the environment and houses with the fires. Here in Australia we have been using sea water to extinguish fires for years and the environment has recovered. Try telling home owners that their house has to burn because the greenies are concerned about putting sea water on the ground. This is a no-brainer.

[rkf]

Kinda comical that sea water won't work in kalifornia, but works well in other countries.

[thedavid]

Ok so use sea water. People act like California is in the middle of the United States. Have helicopters fly in sea water from the coast and put these fires out.

[carolynbrubaker]

Are you kidding me??? They're worried about the environmental impact???? That's insane.

[mbens]

Use the seawater. Saving life and property is the primary goal here; worry about the environment later.

[MrMountain]

CA budget- $2B for fire. $20B for illegal immigrants.

[fotinilyb]

In Greece and all Mediterranean countries SEAWATER is used for decades to extinguish almost all forest fires expecially if they are nearby. No problem with regrowth of the forest and it's regeneration afterwards!

In France we always use sea water and there is no problem with vegetables !

[HaziqRosli-dv]

So burning everything now is better than plants not growing in a month. Good to know you got your priorities right 🙄

[alphab]

People said that sea water affect wildlife and plants, but what wildlife of plants are going to be there after the fires?

[MsLindawoods]

Why not ask the wonderful company that owns a lot of water in california ??? People should start investigating

[tarikhulmahfudz]

So its better to be burned down than using sea water because of the effect. Is not like it's a farmland area

[butler]

San Francisco CA have sea water hydrants to fight fires.

[reyinfante]

The governor is basically to blame. He mandated no to clear the dry forest floor of branches and dead matter which made possible to spread the fire rapidly. He also diverted the water from the north to go to the ocean.

[TienPham-qsbm]

When I was little, my mother told me a story about a bus on the way from Vung Tau to Saigon that caught fire. There was no fire extinguisher on the bus. My mother personally scooped sand and threw it on the fire. The passengers saw this and imitated it. Finally, the fire was extinguished. This lesson teaches us that we must use whatever means we have to solve the problem.

[jeantuite-actress--imdb]

It’s a catastrophic emergency. I would think they would go to the Pacific ASAP right now and yesterday.

[BRAVENm]

There is no reason why firefighters can't use sea water to fight the fire.I mentioned that five years ago

[mayurdpd]

The Governor should be answering the questions rather than asking them now.

[MA-RI-ACOSMIC.DRAGON.TEMPLE]

"Sterilizing" soil, or having the whole city burned down? Prioritize