However, saltwater can be less effective, can corrode equipment and damage the soil where it's used. Susan McKelvey, a spokesperson for the National Fire Protection Association, told VERIFY ...
Ocean water can be used in extreme cases to fight wildfires, but freshwater is preferred due to equipment corrosion, soil damage, and logistical challenges.
Additionally, salt water can cause rapid corrosion of firefighting equipment, including aircraft, pumps, and hoses. Using salt water also raises environmental concerns, as salt water can harm ...
cited corrosion as a reason why they don’t commonly use ocean water. “It’s not our standard practice to draw from the ocean or bay because of the extreme corrosiveness of salt water.
Salt water from the ocean is an option for fighting L.A.'s fires, but it's more complicated than simply going to the beach to transport water to the hillsides.