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The future of wildfire management

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Manage episode 479014228 series 2712286
Content provided by Stanford Engineering & Russ Altman and Stanford Engineering. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Stanford Engineering & Russ Altman and Stanford Engineering or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://ppacc.player.fm/legal.

Michael Wara is a lawyer and an expert in wildfire policy who says that solutions are out there, but face financial, political, and cultural resistance. What’s needed, he says, are “whole-of-society” approaches that raise wildfire risk to the community level. In this regard, the devastation in Los Angeles in 2025 could provide the spark needed for smarter communication, better policies, and renewed urgency on wildfires, Wara tells host Russ Altman on this episode of Stanford Engineering’s The Future of Everything podcast.

Have a question for Russ? Send it our way in writing or via voice memo, and it might be featured on an upcoming episode. Please introduce yourself, let us know where you're listening from, and share your question. You can send questions to [email protected].

Episode Reference Links:

Connect With Us:

Chapters:

(00:00:00) Introduction

Russ Altman introduces guest Michael Wara, a wildfire expert and professor of law at Stanford University.

(00:03:17) Journey to Wildfire Research

How Michael’s clean energy work led to wildfire research.

(00:04:48) Communities at the Frontlines

The community-level challenges and responsibilities in fire prevention.

(00:07:05) Shifting Community Perspectives

How awareness is rising but state efforts remain misaligned.

(00:09:28) Legacy Homes, Modern Risk

Why older homes pose a major risk and retrofitting is crucial.

(00:11:06) The Limits of Utility-Led Safety Efforts

The significant but insufficient progress utilities have made.

(00:14:35) Targeting High-Risk Areas

How utilities now prioritize high-risk areas for safety upgrades.

(00:15:42) Insurance Industry Realities

Why insurers can't price risk without crashing markets.

(00:18:24) Urban Wildfires

How today's major fires in suburbs are mostly fueled by homes.

(00:23:24) The Climate Change Multiplier

The impact of atmospheric dryness and fuel moisture on fire risk.

(00:25:57) New Fire Regulations

Recent mandates that have been implemented to decrease fire risk.

(00:30:58) Hollywood’s Role in Culture Change

Michael’s suggestion to showcase fire-safe landscaping.

(00:33:04) Conclusion

Connect With Us:

Episode Transcripts >>> The Future of Everything Website

Connect with Russ >>> Threads / Bluesky / Mastodon

Connect with School of Engineering >>>Twitter/X / Instagram / LinkedIn / Facebook

  continue reading

320 episodes

Artwork
iconShare
 
Manage episode 479014228 series 2712286
Content provided by Stanford Engineering & Russ Altman and Stanford Engineering. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Stanford Engineering & Russ Altman and Stanford Engineering or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://ppacc.player.fm/legal.

Michael Wara is a lawyer and an expert in wildfire policy who says that solutions are out there, but face financial, political, and cultural resistance. What’s needed, he says, are “whole-of-society” approaches that raise wildfire risk to the community level. In this regard, the devastation in Los Angeles in 2025 could provide the spark needed for smarter communication, better policies, and renewed urgency on wildfires, Wara tells host Russ Altman on this episode of Stanford Engineering’s The Future of Everything podcast.

Have a question for Russ? Send it our way in writing or via voice memo, and it might be featured on an upcoming episode. Please introduce yourself, let us know where you're listening from, and share your question. You can send questions to [email protected].

Episode Reference Links:

Connect With Us:

Chapters:

(00:00:00) Introduction

Russ Altman introduces guest Michael Wara, a wildfire expert and professor of law at Stanford University.

(00:03:17) Journey to Wildfire Research

How Michael’s clean energy work led to wildfire research.

(00:04:48) Communities at the Frontlines

The community-level challenges and responsibilities in fire prevention.

(00:07:05) Shifting Community Perspectives

How awareness is rising but state efforts remain misaligned.

(00:09:28) Legacy Homes, Modern Risk

Why older homes pose a major risk and retrofitting is crucial.

(00:11:06) The Limits of Utility-Led Safety Efforts

The significant but insufficient progress utilities have made.

(00:14:35) Targeting High-Risk Areas

How utilities now prioritize high-risk areas for safety upgrades.

(00:15:42) Insurance Industry Realities

Why insurers can't price risk without crashing markets.

(00:18:24) Urban Wildfires

How today's major fires in suburbs are mostly fueled by homes.

(00:23:24) The Climate Change Multiplier

The impact of atmospheric dryness and fuel moisture on fire risk.

(00:25:57) New Fire Regulations

Recent mandates that have been implemented to decrease fire risk.

(00:30:58) Hollywood’s Role in Culture Change

Michael’s suggestion to showcase fire-safe landscaping.

(00:33:04) Conclusion

Connect With Us:

Episode Transcripts >>> The Future of Everything Website

Connect with Russ >>> Threads / Bluesky / Mastodon

Connect with School of Engineering >>>Twitter/X / Instagram / LinkedIn / Facebook

  continue reading

320 episodes

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