'The hydrants up here are dead.' Radio traffic shows how LA firefighters lost water

NPR transcribed more than 2,000 hours of radio communications from the LA fires. It shows hydrants going dry and first responders fighting the fires despite scarce resources.

Jan 18, 2025 - 23:27
'The hydrants up here are dead.' Radio traffic shows how LA firefighters lost water
A Super Scooper plane drops water on the Palisades fire on Jan. 7 in Pacific Palisades, Calif.

NPR transcribed more than 2,000 hours of radio communications from the LA fires. It shows hydrants going dry and first responders fighting the fires despite scarce resources.

(Image credit: Brian van der Brug)