Spencer Pratt, Heidi Montag, and more wildfire victims sue L.A. over water mismanagement

Spencer Pratt and his wife Heidi Montag are suing the city of Los Angeles, after having lost their home in January’s California wildfires.

The married reality TV veterans, known for The Hills and sequel series The Hills: New Beginnings, and 20 other individuals filed a lawsuit Thursday in Los Angeles Superior Court that was obtained by EW. They allege the city and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (“LADWP”) mismanaged the supply of water in their area.

The nearby Santa Ynez Reservoir was awaiting repairs and “effectively out of commission” during the blaze, which led to a lack of water needed to fight the fire, according to the lawsuit. The plaintiffs are accusing the other side of trying to save money by operating the water system despite the drained reservoir.

“Hydrants in Pacific Palisades failed after three tanks each holding one million gallons of water went dry within a span of 12 hours,” according to the lawsuit

The complaint alleges that the defendants “also designed the water system for public use such that it would not have enough water pressure to fight an urban fire.”

The parties are seeking an undisclosed amount that includes repair or replacement of their property, a loss of wages, and legal fees.

In addition to Heidi and Spencer, the list of plaintiffs includes Janet and William Pratt. Spencer’s sister Stephanie, who also costarred on The Hills, confirmed that their parents’ home was destroyed, PEOPLE reported.

Spencer Pratt noted Jan. 8 that his home was among the structures affected by the blaze — now known as the destructive Palisades Fire — even writing on TikTok that the experience had been a “nightmare come true.”

Sign up for Entertainment Weekly‘s free daily newsletter to get breaking news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more.

The couple has been outspoken about their financial struggles since their MTV heyday, and Spencer explained to PEOPLE that’s what led to him being so candid about his terrible experience, which many celebrities have gone through this month.

“If we were rich, I wouldn’t be on an app,” the How to Be Famous co-author said. “I’d be buying a new house and starting to order things. So, I don’t think we would’ve shared anything vulnerable. [Social media] is how we already made money before. That’s our way of life. Heidi and I have been Snapchatting every day probably for eight years, our whole life.”

They pay their bills by sharing personal moments.

“So, especially when your house and everything’s gone, you’re not going to be like, ‘Oh, I’m going to stop doing the one thing that pays us,” Spencer said.

He and Montag have been open about accepting money after sharing their tragedy with their fans.

“I made, like, $4,000 on TikTok this week,” he told Variety in an interview published Jan. 17, “but on TikTok Live, where people can just give to me direct, I think maybe $20,000. So that’s phenomenal, and life-changing. That’s the power of individual supporters, people just backing you and getting behind you. And that’s the most powerful when you don’t have to rely on ads or AI and algorithms when just actual human beings just want to give. It’s unbelievable and incredible.”