'Torched' and 'Wildfire Days' look at California's wildfires from the front lines
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What’s the overall focus of the episode and why are wildfires a global concern?
Hi, I'm Alyssa Nadgwarney, and you're listening to NPR's Book of the Day. Like so many of you, I have been following the wildfires sweeping across Europe. In France and Spain, the summer's blazes are the largest on record, spanning roughly a hundred thousand acres each. We're seeing more extreme fires around the world, and that is the topic of our two books today. In a moment, a female firefighters account battling fires in California in 2020 in the book Wildfire Days. But first, CBS News correspondent Jonathan Vigliotti details what it was like on the ground during the worst of the Palisades fire in 2025 in Los Angeles in his new book called Torched. Vigliotti talked with morning edition host A Martinez.
The midterms are coming. And if you think the news cycle feels intense now, just wait until the fall. That's why summer is a perfect time to make sure your news diet is calibrated. I mean Martinez, on Up First, we unpack the three biggest stories every morning so you can stay informed and get on with your day in fewer than 15 minutes. Follow or subscribe to Up First Today wherever you get podcasts. This week, NIFIA Raman, the progressive Los Angeles City Council member, edged out reality TV star Spencer Pratt in the LA mayoral race, challenging incumbent Karen Bass. A constant topic of accountability in this race remains, and that is who is responsible for the aftermath of the Palisades fires of 2025 and how will the city rebuild ahead of the 2028 Olympics set to take place in Los Angeles?
CBS News correspondent Jonathan Vigliati was on the ground during the worst of the fires.
I have responded to countless fires and I have never responded to a fire when I entered town and already there was chaos.
In a new book titled Torched, Vigliati details the early hours of the fire when residents found themselves evacuating their homes without a plan.
I remember looking around. Taking stock, not seeing a single firefighter, a single first responder there on the scene.
We recently spoke about his book and the political fallout following those catastrophic first days.
In the aftermath, our elected officials, from Mayor Karen Bass to Governor Gavin Newsom, have struggled with delivering a clear message as to what went wrong.
Jonathan, the book uh focuses on Los Angeles, but you also reported on the fires in Maui and the effects of climate change around the US. Are politics and policy just too slow to adapt to what people need now when it comes to climate change?
Politics and policy are are certainly too slow to adapt. And I also think politics and the optics of messing something up are also impacting our ability, our leader's ability to confront accountability, to recognize where there were mistakes made, and to clearly articulate and outline. how we can operate together in the future to prevent history from repeating itself. And what is very clear from the fire experts I speak with, even though we have a climate change issue, There are things that we could do through policy and through simple building materials that can help us weather the future storm.
How does Jonathan Vigliotti describe the chaotic start of the 2025 Palisades fire?
You know, in the aftermath, there has been this rush to rebuild. There's been this rapid push for permits to go through. Typically, after a disaster, it takes about 12 to 18 months to get permits approved. Here in Los Angeles, we're talking three. months we need to change policy so that when we rebuild We're not rebuilding the same old way. We're building with resiliency.
Jonathan and I spoke before California's primary results came in, ending Spencer Pratt's mayoral run in Los Angeles. I asked Jonathan how much the politics of fire had to do with having two Republicans, Pratt and Steve Hilton, making bids in democratic strongholds on the local and gubernatorial level.
I could best speak to Spencer Pratt. Spencer Pratt would not exist. He would not be a name on a ballot for people to check off. Had the fires not happened, but more importantly, had accountability taken place shortly thereafter. He lost his home. His parents lost their homes.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
What’s the overall focus of the episode and why are wildfires a global concern?
0:02–3:17
2
How does Jonathan Vigliotti describe the chaotic start of the 2025 Palisades fire?
3:17–6:25
3
Why do politicians and officials struggle to respond effectively to California wildfires?
6:25–9:54
4
How is the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games influencing the city’s rebuilding plans after the fire?
9:54–12:42
5
What motivated Kelly Ramsey to join a hot‑shot crew and become the only woman on her team?
12:42–15:51
6
What does hot‑shot training involve and how does it compare to special‑forces preparation?
15:51–18:27
7
How do crew members cope with extreme conditions, injuries and moments of terror on the fire line?
18:27–21:26
8
What lasting lessons do the guests share about fire policy, rebuilding and personal resilience?
21:26–21:58
Speakers
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