As wildfires continue to devastate Los Angeles County, frustrations have mounted over reports of fire hydrants running dry or losing pressure.

The issue has drawn widespread criticism, particularly as firefighters struggle to contain the blazes with limited resources.

Amid this crisis, a fact-checking effort by CNN’s Daniel Dale has come under fire for making an inaccurate claim about the water supply.

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Dale attempted to counter public outrage over the lack of water by asserting that sufficient water resources were available.

“Number one, there is no shortage of water in the Los Angeles area. The reservoirs are at or above historical levels. The water is there.” – Daniel Dale

However, his claim was contradicted by ABC7, which reported that the Palisades reservoir, a key water source, was empty when the wildfires began.

“The Santa Ynez Reservoir, which holds 117 million gallons of water, is currently closed because of repairs to its cover and it could not be used during the Palisades fire, although it is located in the middle of the Palisades in the Palisades Highlands, and some believe it would have really helped Governor Newsom has ordered a probe as to why that reservoir was offline.” – Josh Haskell, ABC7 reporter

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This revelation cast doubt on Dale’s assertion and added fuel to ongoing criticisms of fact-checking organizations.

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The LA Times highlighted that maintenance work had left the reservoir offline during one of the most dangerous wildfire seasons in recent memory.

This directly impacted the availability of water for firefighting efforts in the affected areas, leaving residents and officials questioning the preparedness of local infrastructure.

The incident has reignited debates about the reliability of fact-checking in media.

Critics have pointed to this example as evidence of systemic flaws in the fact-checking process, accusing organizations of prioritizing narratives over accuracy.

The controversy comes amid broader scrutiny of fact-checking platforms like those used on social media sites, including Facebook.

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In recent months, these platforms have faced calls to reform or eliminate their reliance on third-party fact-checkers, which many argue have become politicized or unreliable.

The ongoing wildfires have devastated large swaths of Los Angeles County, forcing thousands to evacuate and leaving many residents without power or water.

Firefighters on the ground have reported significant challenges in accessing functional hydrants, with some running completely dry as fires intensified.

Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley addressed the issue during a recent press conference, saying, “My stance on this is, when a firefighter comes up to a hydrant, we expect there’s going to be water. We don’t control the water supply. Our firefighters are there to protect lives and property and to make sure that we’re properly trained and equipped. That’s my position on this. So if there’s no water, I don’t know how the water gets to the hydrants.”

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Crowley’s comments reflect the growing frustration among first responders, who have faced logistical obstacles that hinder their ability to combat the fires effectively.

The incident with CNN’s Daniel Dale has further fueled calls for greater accountability in media reporting.

Critics argue that fact-checking, once a respected journalistic practice, has become increasingly politicized and error-prone.

For many, the fact that ABC7 and The Los Angeles Times—not CNN—debunked Dale’s claim underscores the shortcomings of today’s fact-checking industry.

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As California continues to grapple with the immediate crisis of wildfires, the controversy over water supply issues and misinformation highlights the importance of accurate reporting and effective resource management.

For residents and first responders alike, the focus remains on mitigating the damage and addressing the systemic failures exposed by this year’s devastating fire season.

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