At least 10 people are now confirmed to have died in Los Angeles wildfires, which have destroyed more than 10,000 structures in the area. Firefighters continue to battle the spread of the flames, while police are investigating whether some have been set deliberately.

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

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.