Firefighting planes are dumping ocean water on the Los Angeles fires. Why using saltwater is typically a last resort

This water can be used in emergencies, but fresh water is preferred due to equipment corrosion, soil damage, and logistics.

Why seawater is used as a last resort to fight wildfires

Firefighters battling the deadly wildfires that raced through the Los Angeles area in January 2025 have been hampered by a limited supply of freshwater. So when the winds are calm enough, skilled pilots flying planes aptly named Super Scoopers are skimming off 1,500 gallons of seawater at a time and dumping it with high precision on the fires. Using seawater to fight fires can sound like a simple solution—the Pacific Ocean has a seemingly endles…

'Super Scoopers' dumping ocean water on the Los Angeles fires: Why using saltwater is typically a last resort

Firefighters battling the deadly wildfires that raced through the Los Angeles area in January 2025 have been hampered by a limited supply of freshwater. The post ‘Super Scoopers’ dumping ocean water on the Los Angeles fires: Why using saltwater is typically a last resort appeared first on Study Finds.

Planes are dumping ocean water to fight the Los Angeles fires. Here's why using saltwater is typically a last resort

While the consequences of adding seawater to ecosystems are not yet well understood, we can gain insights on what to expect by considering the effects of sea-level rise.

Firefighting planes dump ocean water on LA fires − why saltwater is usually last resort

Firefighting planes are dumping ocean water on the Los Angeles fires − why using saltwater is typically a last resortFirefighters battling the deadly wildfires that raced through the Los Angeles area in January 2025 have been hampered by a limited supply of freshwater. So, when the winds are calm enough, skilled pilots flying planes aptly named Super Scoopers are skimming off 1,500 gallons of seawater at a time and dumping it with high precision…

Why Doesn't LA Just Put the Fires Out Using Ocean Water?

As the city takes stock of the wreckage, firefighters are still battling several wildfires in the Los Angeles region — and the path of destruction is enormous. An extremely dry 2024 — inextricable at this point from the consequences of human-caused climate change — has made firefighting efforts even more complicated. Last week, fire hydrants started to run dry, leaving some firefighters empty-handed. Which leaves an intriguing question: why aren…