Firefighters in Pacific Palisades and Altadena have repeatedly been hampered by low water pressure and dry hydrants, revealing limitations in local water systems designed to supply neighborhoods.

Though wildfires have always happened, warming global temperatures are making them more frequent and severe. For instance, scientists calculated last year that our overheating planet has contributed to a 172% increase in areas burned by wildfires in California since the 1970s.

Reports of fire hydrants running dry as crews battled the Palisades Fire has raised questions among residents and fire officials in San Diego County whether it is something that could happen here when the region gets next major wildfire — and what can be done about it.