As multiple fires continue to burn through Los Angeles, there’s a good reason why firefighters aren’t using the nearby ocean water to help tame the blaze.

The Palisades Fire, which is devastating the area between Malibu and Santa Monica, has been reported as the most destructive wildfire ever to hit Los Angeles County.

The fire has covered more than 17,000 acres and stands at zero percent containment at the time of writing (January 9).

With three other fires – the Hurst Fire, Eaton Fire, Sunset Fire – still burning, some people have been left wondering why firefighters can’t use water from the Pacific Ocean to try and extinguish the flames.

“Is there any particular reason why we can’t use ocean water to help put out the fires?,” one person asked on Twitter, as another claimed they had found a ‘solution’ to the wildfires, with a map pointing to the ocean.

Water is the natural enemy of fire, but there are some differences between freshwater and saltwater that make freshwater the preferred choice.

One of those differences, Technology.org points out, is that salt can cause corrosion. While ocean water may work to tackle the fire, storing it in water tanks and putting it in contact with other equipment used in firefighting can cause damage, potentially hindering the use of the equipment in the future.

Another reason to avoid using saltwater in fires is the impact it can have on the ecosystem in the future. Salt makes it harder for plants to get water, meaning its use can result in landscapes left barren for years.

Firefighting equipment can become damaged from salt water (Apu Gomes/Getty Images)

Even in areas where there is less vegetation, most existing firefighting systems rely on fire hydrants and fire engine tanks which have been adapted to use fresh water, making salt water impractical.

Salt can also reduce the cooling effect of water, which in turn makes it less efficient at lowering the temperature of a fire.

All of this is not to say salt water absolutely couldn’t be used to fight the Los Angeles fires, but it’s not the ideal solution.

Questions about using salt water to fight fires rose after some Los Angeles County fire hydrants began to run dry as firefighters tackled the blazes, despite the water storage tanks that service the hydrants being filled before the fires broke out.

Jim Hudson, of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, told CNN that the issue was a ‘challenge’ early on, but assured the water system has since started to ‘stabilize’.

You can support those affected by the fires by donating to the Red Cross online, by calling (800) 733-2767 or texting REDCROSS to 90999.