The Waters Ebbed As The Fires Raged

November 18, 2008 by John H. Taylor | Filed Under Yorba Linda 

Residents of a Yorba Linda neighborhood called Hidden Hills are telling the City Council tonight that on Saturday afternoon, as the “Freeway Complex” fire raged through the city, firefighters stood helplessly watching homes burn because there was little or no water pressure in fire hydrants. KTLA, a local TV station, previewed the meeting:

A water pump broke Saturday afternoon and a replacement was found in Laguna Beach.  As a result, Yorba Linda officials have advised residents to boil their water or mix it with a few drops of bleach to purify it.

Homeowners want to know why the system wasn’t built to handle such an emergency — especially in an area at risk for brushfires.

When KTLA asked about that issue, a public relations executive hired by the water district decided to stop the interview.

“It’s just sad, it’s just so sad that the city is not taking care of the property and whoever designed it… I’m just too upset,” homeowner Todd Purdue said.

Some residents claim they’ve received letters in the past notifying them of water pressure problems in the area.  They feel the issue was long-standing and should have been fixed before such a disaster occurred.

One resident wondered why the Yorba Linda Water District had built a new headquarters instead of a once-planned water tower near Hidden Hills. The District has called a special meeting at which public comments will be welcomed on Wednesday, November 19 at 4 p.m. at 1717 E. Miraloma Avenue, Placentia. The District’s office number is (714) 701-3020.

Comments