With wildfires continuing to rage across southern California, a fire researcher says lowering fire risk means reconsidering where and how we build our communities.
Articles on California fire 2017
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There are well-understood ways to minimize the risk of fire spreading through housing – if only developers, homeowners and officials took heed.
Fire is part of the ecology in much of California, but recent wildfires have caused much more damage than past burns of similar size. A fire ecologist points to two key factors: winds and population growth.
The media and policymakers often say a ‘perfect storm’ of environmental factors cause wildfires but that ignores the role of irresponsible urban planning and development in raising fire risks.
A California fire expert explains why municipalities need to reassess urban fire risk and take steps to learn how to coexist with fire.
Top contributors
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Wildfire Specialist, University of California Cooperative Extension; Adjunct Professor at the Bren School, University of California at Santa Barbara, University of California, Santa Barbara
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Research Ecologist, USGS; Adjunct Professor, University of California, Los Angeles
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Scientist and Director of Research Communication for the Arizona Water Innovation Initiative, Arizona State University
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Associate Professor of Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Colorado Denver