[M T]

I think the most succinct analysis I've seen is that public firefighting infrastructure is designed to put out isolated house fires, not combat an extreme natural disaster sweeping into a highly populated suburb.

I suspect you are thinking of municipal fire companies.  CAL FIRE and similar organizations have a different mission.  But Mother Nature can overwhelm any organization or thwart any contingency plan.

In the reporting, I heard that there were more firefighting personnel available that there were engines(etc) to utilize them. (I think that was in regard to the Palisades fire.)   I also heard that four (?) 1M gallon tanks were filled before the fires but the water usage by all the fire crews was greater than the pipeline or pump capacity to refill them. (I think that was in a news conference regarding the Eaton Fire.)    I heard indirectly that the pumping capacity was reduced due to power failures (due to fires).   I certainly can understand that the outflow rate of the tanks exceeds the inflow rate.  It is unfortunate or inadequate planning if the power distribution system to the pumps was not designed for the widespread fires.

[M T]

I think the most succinct analysis I've seen is that public firefighting infrastructure is designed to put out isolated house fires, not combat an extreme natural disaster sweeping into a highly populated suburb.

I suspect you are thinking of municipal fire companies.  CAL FIRE and similar organizations have a different mission.  But Mother Nature can overwhelm any organization or thwart any contingency plan.

In the reporting, I heard that there were more firefighting personnel available that there were engines(etc) to utilize them. (I think that was in regard to the Palisades fire.)   I also heard that four (?) 1M gallon tanks were filled before the fires but the water usage by all the fire crews was greater than the pipeline or pump capacity to refill them. (I think that was in a news conference regarding the Eaton Fire.)    I heard indirectly that the pumping capacity was reduced due to power failures (due to fires).   I certainly can understand that the outflow rate of the tanks exceeds the inflow rate.  It is unfortunate or inadequate planning if the power distribution system to the pumps was not designed for the widespread fires.