Firefighter Tells Mel Gibson Crews Were Unaware Of Water Shortage During LA Fires

Mel Gibson was shocked to learn from a Los Angeles firefighter that emergency crews quickly ran out of water while battling the raging wildfires that have devastated the region. Gibson toured the damaged areas with NewsNation and spoke directly with firefighters about the challenges they faced.

A firefighter admitted that the crews had no prior warning about water shortages. Gibson asked if the firefighters knew the reservoir was empty, and the responder explained they had water initially but lost it sooner than expected. “It’s not uncommon for us to lose water in our firefight. It’s just that early in the game was surprising,” the firefighter said. Gibson reacted in disbelief, saying, “Because yeah, it wasn’t there. And no one told you? That’s crazy.”

One major factor was the shutdown of the Santa Ynez Reservoir, which was undergoing maintenance. This left firefighters without access to 117 million gallons of water as flames tore through the area.

Gibson’s Malibu home was among the many destroyed by the fires. Despite the loss, Gibson remained forward-looking, saying he plans to rebuild. His Academy Awards for Braveheart were safe because they were kept elsewhere.

In a previous interview, Gibson voiced concerns about the cause of the fires. He questioned whether the lack of water and perfect wind conditions could have been intentional, suggesting the fires might have been started to clear valuable land.

The Los Angeles fires have resulted in at least 25 deaths and forced more than 180,000 people to evacuate.