Wildfires raging across Los Angeles have caused severe damage to the city’s infrastructure, fueled by high winds and the effects of climate change. While the full impact is still being assessed, the fires have already claimed at least 24 lives, displaced more than 100,000 residents, and destroyed over 12,000 structures, according to The Guardian.

Experts predict the toll will rise, as the National Weather Service has issued red flag warnings for continued severe fire conditions, which could hinder recovery efforts.

The fires, which have consumed over 62 square miles — an area larger than San Francisco — are primarily concentrated around the Palisades Fire and Eaton Fire, as firefighters battle to regain control, reports AP News. Although no official government estimates have been provided yet, AccuWeather projects the damage, including economic losses, could total between $250 billion and $275 billion, making this the costliest wildfire event in U.S. history.

The wildfires have wreaked havoc on essential infrastructure, especially water, sewer, and power systems. LA County Public Works Director Mark Pestrella stated at a January 9 briefing that significant damage has been done, with debris removal — including thousands of fallen trees and materials from destroyed buildings — necessary before repairs can begin. The LA Department of Public Works (LADPW) is spearheading this cleanup effort and plans to conduct a health review of each property affected by the fires.

Traffic signals have been damaged, and wires have been brought down, said Janisse Quiñones, CEO and chief engineer of the LA Department of Water and Power (LADWP). Many roads in the LA area are closed due to the fires, according to LADPW’s website. The fires also caused widespread power outages, affecting hundreds of thousands of residents. Although power has been restored to many, nearly 20,000 LADPW customers remain without power as of Tuesday, according to PowerOutage.us.

Most outages have been concentrated in the Pacific Palisades and Brentwood neighborhoods, with some electrical equipment being shut down for the safety of firefighting crews.

Water System Strain

‍Los Angeles’ water infrastructure has come under fire as well. While misinformation has spread regarding a lack of water, the real issue lay in the city’s pump-and-storage system, designed for small-scale firefighting but unable to keep up with the rapid spread of the fires, as reported by The New York Times. Water for hilly areas like Palisades is stored in reservoirs and pumped to elevated tanks. However, these systems were overwhelmed by the fire’s quick pace.

Though water reservoirs remain full, contamination from ash and debris has impacted some reserves, leading to a "do not drink" advisory for Pacific Palisades and nearby areas, as reported by Quiñones. High fire-related demand and damaged pipes have also led to loss of water pressure, which can introduce harmful contaminants into the system. The loss of pressure also limits the water supply needed for firefighting.

The LA Department of Water and Power has continued to send water tankers to aid firefighters, with LA Mayor Karen Bass emphasizing the city’s commitment to supporting recovery efforts.

Rebuilding and Recovery

‍In response to the devastation, construction companies are preparing for significant recovery and rebuilding efforts. AECOM is assisting FEMA with its Public Assistance grant program, which focuses on repairing damaged public infrastructure after disasters. Jacobs secured a five-year, $570.5 million contract to support hazard mitigation and rebuilding efforts in California.

TetraTech, a civil engineering firm based in Pasadena, has a history of supporting disaster recovery across the country, according to Milwaukee’s Baird Financial Services. Electric grid contractors are also expected to play a critical role, as demand for their services will increase dramatically. According to Baird, much of this work will be conducted under existing master service agreements with utilities, which dispatch teams nationwide to help restore power after natural disasters.