The Expert Podcast

• Discussion on a California reservoir that was empty during the fire and whether its water, if full, could have helped put out the fire.
• The reservoir held 117 million gallons of water. What if it was full? Could that have been enough?
• Math Breakdown:
  • 117 million gallons divided by 12,000 houses = 9,750 gallons per house.
  • On average, firefighters use about 3,000 gallons to fight a house fire (lower estimate).
  • Using scientific fire flow calculations, a single family dwelling (60 feet by 20 feet) would need about 4,000 gallons of water for a 10-minute fight.
  • In 20 minutes, that number would rise to 8,000 gallons.
  • With 9,750 gallons available per house, the water from the reservoir could cover approximately 20-30 minutes of firefighting efforts for each house.
• Factors to Consider:
  • Water is only one part of the equation. Firefighters need hoses, equipment, and personnel.
  • The number of firefighters and fire trucks could be limiting factors, as well as logistical challenges in fighting simultaneous fires across 12,000 homes.
  • Other Considerations:
    • Limited budgets and maintenance issues with fire trucks.
    • The fires likely weren't all fully involved at the same time, so the amount of water needed may have varied.
• Conclusion: The math shows that, in theory, the available water could have been sufficient for a significant portion of the firefighting effort, but real-world complexities (resources, timing, logistics) are at play.
• Questions: What do you think of the math? Was it oversimplified, or is it a reasonable assessment? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

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