Christopher Flavelle

Meanwhile, you know, on the other hand... Can you address the criticism now over the budget issue and the slashing, the $17 million slashing?

Meanwhile, you know, on the other hand... Can you address the criticism now over the budget issue and the slashing, the $17 million slashing?

There were no reductions that were made that would have impacted the situation that we were dealing with over the last couple of days. And then there was a little bit...

There were no reductions that were made that would have impacted the situation that we were dealing with over the last couple of days. And then there was a little bit...

The first thing that's really important to make clear is climate change makes this all harder. The combination of rising temperatures and longer droughts mean you've got more vegetation ready to burn. You've got hotter temperatures making it easier for that vegetation to burn. You've got even more of a challenge putting it out. This is fundamentally a climate story.

The first thing that's really important to make clear is climate change makes this all harder. The combination of rising temperatures and longer droughts mean you've got more vegetation ready to burn. You've got hotter temperatures making it easier for that vegetation to burn. You've got even more of a challenge putting it out. This is fundamentally a climate story.

But if any state is prepared for these things, it's California. They've done all the things that you'd want a state government to do to get ready for those climate risks. And still, it didn't really work.

But if any state is prepared for these things, it's California. They've done all the things that you'd want a state government to do to get ready for those climate risks. And still, it didn't really work.

Yeah, the first thing to know about California is they've had wildfires throughout their history, including some really devastating blazes, not least the disastrous fires in 2017 and 2018. So first of all, this is a state that knows fire is a part of the landscape, but also there's this question of vulnerability.

Yeah, the first thing to know about California is they've had wildfires throughout their history, including some really devastating blazes, not least the disastrous fires in 2017 and 2018. So first of all, this is a state that knows fire is a part of the landscape, but also there's this question of vulnerability.

California is painfully exposed to wildfires because of the physical nature of the state. The risk in Los Angeles is high for a bunch of reasons. One is you get very little rainfall, so you get dry terrain that can burn easily. But also the topography, right? The hills around Los Angeles are sort of a delight. You get to live somewhere with a view. You get a wonderful breeze, which is nice.

California is painfully exposed to wildfires because of the physical nature of the state. The risk in Los Angeles is high for a bunch of reasons. One is you get very little rainfall, so you get dry terrain that can burn easily. But also the topography, right? The hills around Los Angeles are sort of a delight. You get to live somewhere with a view. You get a wonderful breeze, which is nice.

But you also get really high fire risk. Fires can move quickly up hills. It's harder for firefighters to access those homes. As you saw, the fire hydrant's harder to move water up the hills. So we're sort of now realizing that these neighborhoods in Los Angeles that seemed like wonderful places to live, like Pacific Palisades, like the Hollywood Hills, have a really high risk rate.

But you also get really high fire risk. Fires can move quickly up hills. It's harder for firefighters to access those homes. As you saw, the fire hydrant's harder to move water up the hills. So we're sort of now realizing that these neighborhoods in Los Angeles that seemed like wonderful places to live, like Pacific Palisades, like the Hollywood Hills, have a really high risk rate.

And also, you've got these Santa Ana winds. The Santa Ana winds, as we've all learned to devastating effect, can push hot, dry air at huge speeds, which is catnip for fires. Then the vegetation. This vegetation is meant to burn. If you get a long drought coupled with fires,

And also, you've got these Santa Ana winds. The Santa Ana winds, as we've all learned to devastating effect, can push hot, dry air at huge speeds, which is catnip for fires. Then the vegetation. This vegetation is meant to burn. If you get a long drought coupled with fires,

in our case, a huge burst vegetation after last year's rain and snow, you get sort of the ideal conditions for wildfires that grow quickly, spread fast, and are hard to put out.

in our case, a huge burst vegetation after last year's rain and snow, you get sort of the ideal conditions for wildfires that grow quickly, spread fast, and are hard to put out.

That's right. They're not just foreseeable. They're almost guaranteed to happen. And as a result, California has been pretty thorough at setting up a system of prevention and toughening that can make these fires, in theory, more manageable. start with their building code.

That's right. They're not just foreseeable. They're almost guaranteed to happen. And as a result, California has been pretty thorough at setting up a system of prevention and toughening that can make these fires, in theory, more manageable. start with their building code.