Brian Fennessy
👤 SpeakerAppearances Over Time
Podcast Appearances
Yep.
Yep.
No, I did. And, you know, you asked some really good questions, you know, in terms of the, you know, power lines and whatnot. I know that the utilities up and down the state are working towards undergrounding them. But you ask a good question. I have no idea why you've got above ground, you know, power lines down along PCH there. But, you know, a good question for Edison.
No, I did. And, you know, you asked some really good questions, you know, in terms of the, you know, power lines and whatnot. I know that the utilities up and down the state are working towards undergrounding them. But you ask a good question. I have no idea why you've got above ground, you know, power lines down along PCH there. But, you know, a good question for Edison.
I'm assuming it's a Southern California Edison thing. I mean, I'm not in that business, so I don't know. I don't know what the fire start was. I think it's still under investigation, so I don't know if it's utility or
I'm assuming it's a Southern California Edison thing. I mean, I'm not in that business, so I don't know. I don't know what the fire start was. I think it's still under investigation, so I don't know if it's utility or
If I'd have known this question was coming, I would have got that for you. But no, there is a percentage, obviously, of each. But, you know, certainly it wasn't lightning, right? We know it wasn't lightning. So could it be human or something else? And utilities there, but it's not as great as you'd think it was. But, you know, on the water side, because I get that a lot too, right?
If I'd have known this question was coming, I would have got that for you. But no, there is a percentage, obviously, of each. But, you know, certainly it wasn't lightning, right? We know it wasn't lightning. So could it be human or something else? And utilities there, but it's not as great as you'd think it was. But, you know, on the water side, because I get that a lot too, right?
We get a lot of fires, obviously, here in Orange County. And I was the fire chief for the city of San Diego before I was here. And What happens in these fires, and I've been doing this for 47 years since 1978, started with the Forest Service in the LA area and been to a lot of these Santa Ana wind-driven fires over many decades.
We get a lot of fires, obviously, here in Orange County. And I was the fire chief for the city of San Diego before I was here. And What happens in these fires, and I've been doing this for 47 years since 1978, started with the Forest Service in the LA area and been to a lot of these Santa Ana wind-driven fires over many decades.
And what a lot of people don't realize is that, you know, the pressure, you know, for our hydrants, for your waters at home is all through, you know, a pump system. And you won't, you won't They're not really obvious where these pump stations are. In fact, I was up in Altadena this morning, and there was one on fire, and the person who was with me was like, what is that?
And what a lot of people don't realize is that, you know, the pressure, you know, for our hydrants, for your waters at home is all through, you know, a pump system. And you won't, you won't They're not really obvious where these pump stations are. In fact, I was up in Altadena this morning, and there was one on fire, and the person who was with me was like, what is that?
I was like, well, that's a pump station. It looks like an outbuilding of some sort. But once those pump stations burn up and go down, there's no more water pressure. And in these big fires, it's not uncommon. I know 20 years ago during the big firestorms of 2003 and 2007, there was a lot of attention on the lack of water pressure for not just firefighters, but the communities.
I was like, well, that's a pump station. It looks like an outbuilding of some sort. But once those pump stations burn up and go down, there's no more water pressure. And in these big fires, it's not uncommon. I know 20 years ago during the big firestorms of 2003 and 2007, there was a lot of attention on the lack of water pressure for not just firefighters, but the communities.
And, you know, there's obviously some Homeland Security concerns about making that information public. Well, we had to petition and really work to get that. the information on where those were, because we need to protect those.
And, you know, there's obviously some Homeland Security concerns about making that information public. Well, we had to petition and really work to get that. the information on where those were, because we need to protect those.
I mean, those are as valuable potentially as, as a home would be because once those pump stations are out, man, you're not getting any more water than what you showed up with. And the 500 gallons showing up with, you know, usually is not going to be enough when you've got a structure fire, you know, like we're seeing up there, but I'll end with this again, after seeing all these, what we, uh,
I mean, those are as valuable potentially as, as a home would be because once those pump stations are out, man, you're not getting any more water than what you showed up with. And the 500 gallons showing up with, you know, usually is not going to be enough when you've got a structure fire, you know, like we're seeing up there, but I'll end with this again, after seeing all these, what we, uh,
Certainly what I saw this morning, I spent about five, six hours in Altadena from, you know, before daylight through about noon. I'll use the word historic. I've seen a lot of wind-driven fires and I can't remember one that had the wind velocity that was experienced over Southern California. There was one in 1980 when Ontario Airport recorded a hundred mile an hour gust or whatever.
Certainly what I saw this morning, I spent about five, six hours in Altadena from, you know, before daylight through about noon. I'll use the word historic. I've seen a lot of wind-driven fires and I can't remember one that had the wind velocity that was experienced over Southern California. There was one in 1980 when Ontario Airport recorded a hundred mile an hour gust or whatever.