As devastating wildfires raged across Los Angeles County this week, firefighters battling the blazes encountered fire hydrants that had no water. Why it matters: The dry fire hydrants sparked political outrage and illustrated just how unprepared municipal water systems are to combat the sorts of large-scale urban wildfires that have become more frequent with climate change.

Gov. Gavin Newsom of California ordered an inquiry into a loss of water pressure after it was revealed that a reservoir was offline when the fires started.

Gov. Gavin Newsom orders independent investigation into how the loss of water pressure left fire hydrants dry, hindering firefighting efforts in Los Angeles.