LA Wildfires: Experts Reveal Overlooked Truths
2025-01-12
The recent devastating wildfires in Los Angeles highlight a critical issue, according to fire experts Jack Cohen and Stephen Pyne. They argue that the scale of destruction was preventable due to societal misunderstandings about fire. The traditional focus on the "wildland-urban interface" overlooks the primary role of wind-carried embers in igniting urban fires. They propose shifting from fire suppression to preventing community ignition points through home hardening, landscaping, and community brush clearance. Drawing parallels to post-Chicago fire planning, they emphasize strengthening urban resilience rather than solely relying on firefighting during extreme conditions.