What’s there to investigate about the fire that destroyed the home of former D.C. Board of Education President Peggy Cooper Cafritz on Chain Bridge Road? Either fire hydrants worked or they didn’t. Either the water pressure was adequate or it wasn’t. It’s just that simple. But the D.C. Water and Sewer Authority and fire department are doing the butt-covering dance.

“We have already begun a thorough and transparent review of the performance of the distribution system [and] expect this comprehensive review will be completed within days,” Johnnie Hemphill Jr., chief of staff to WASA’s interim general manager, wrote on July 30 in response to concerns raised by D.C. Councilwoman Mary Cheh.