With Southern California ablaze, the lack of water leaves many wondering, why not use ocean water to combat fires?

Why don’t firefighters use the ocean to fight wildfires, especially in places like Los Angeles County? With over 36,000 acres burning, saltwater might seem like the perfect solution—but the reality isn’t so simple.

The recent and still-raging Los Angeles wildfires have prompted some online to wonder: Can we use ocean water to fight fires? While the Pacific Ocean sits adjacent to the city of Los Angeles, several factors render its use in firefighting impractical and even potentially harmful.