OCEANSIDE — Following devastating fires in Los Angeles, Oceanside residents have raised concerns about the city’s ability to handle a similar large-scale disaster in their own backyard, prompting a presentation by the fire and water utilities departments at a Jan. 22 council meeting.
The discussion stemmed from the Palisades and Eaton fires, which ignited on Jan. 7 and burned nearly 40,000 acres across Pacific Palisades, Malibu, Altadena, and Pasadena. The fires destroyed over 5,000 structures, claimed 28 lives and highlighted resource limitations in Los Angeles, including reports of water pressure loss and insufficient fire-fighting resources.
Oceanside Fire Chief Dave Parsons made it clear that no city, including Oceanside, is equipped to manage such a catastrophic event on its own.
“No fire department is designed to take care of an issue like what we saw at the Palisades and Eaton fires,” Parsons said. “If that’s what the community wanted, they couldn’t afford it, frankly. No jurisdiction can afford the water system and fire department resources necessary to stop an urban conflagration.”
Parsons said that fighting an urban conflagration — an uncontrollable fire that spreads beyond barriers — requires regional and even national assistance. For instance, the Palisades and Eaton fires would have needed at least 20,000 fire engines, far exceeding the state’s total supply.
“That’s not reasonable, that’s not possible,” Parsons said. “There’s not even that many engines in the state, and you would need them there immediately.”
Aircraft assistance during those fires was also limited due to strong Santa Ana winds, Parsons added.
The fires in Los Angeles sparked questions about water resources, leading California Gov. Gavin Newsom to order an investigation into the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power after reports of water pressure issues in critical fire zones.
In Oceanside, Water Utilities Director Lindsay Leahy emphasized that no municipal water system is designed to handle the scale of water usage needed for such an event.
“Our water distribution system is appropriately designed and sized for what it’s meant to do,” Leahy said, explaining that it supports drinking, irrigation, and small-scale firefighting efforts but is not built for catastrophic wildfires.
Oceanside has 7,368 city-maintained fire hydrants and 457 additional private hydrants, typically located on HOA or commercial properties, overseen by the fire department.
Leahy said the city’s water system includes 12 reservoirs holding approximately 50 million gallons, with proactive maintenance and a “constant replacement program” for pipes and valves.
Fire safety remains a top concern for residents in areas adjacent to wildlands, including near Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton and the Calavera Preserve. Parsons commended Camp Pendleton’s robust fire protection measures, which include routine controlled burns, along the city’s northern border.
Oceanside resident Mike Tenhover recalled the 2022 Wala Fire, which damaged approximately 33 acres of the Wanis View Preserve near the Oceanside Municipal Airport and Camp Pendleton border. While the fire was quickly controlled, Tenhover said the outcome could have been worse had strong Santa Ana winds been present.
Since then, Tenhover and the fire department have collaborated to improve fire safety in his neighborhood, including updated planting and brush removal.
Parsons stressed the importance of residents taking personal responsibility for fire preparedness by utilizing resources such as the county’s Alert San Diego mobile application and the regional Genasys Protect platform for emergency updates.
The fire chief also highlighted the city’s recent hiring of an emergency management coordinator to assist fire and police departments with large-scale emergencies.
The Oceanside Fire Department, one of the busiest in San Diego County, currently operates eight fire stations, with a ninth station set to open this summer in South Morro Hills. The department is staffed by 48 personnel daily and maintains a fleet that includes eight fire engines, six paramedic ambulances, and three wildland engines.
Parsons emphasized that while Oceanside’s fire department is highly efficient, it remains “resource constrained.”
“There are places we can go, but that’s where we are now,” Parsons said.
