Opinion: CA liability law threatens water districts by saddling them with fire costs
After the Freeway Complex Fire, the Yorba Linda Water District was slapped with a lawsuit and ultimately had to pay a $69 million judgment. Even though the court determined the district didn’t ignite the fire or act inappropriately, the district was still held liable for fire damages because the fire incapacitated the pumps needed to push water to the fire hydrants in one neighborhood.