The Palisades fire wiped out entire blocks of homes. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
We must move from fire resistance to fire resilience, says USC Environmental Studies professor
Original story by Ryan Fonseca
As Los Angeles County faces one of its most catastrophic wildfire seasons, LA Times reporter Ryan Fonseca speaks with researchers who study climate change and how it relates to natural disasters such as wildfires.
According to many researchers, there is evidence that climate change is creating conditions that will make wildfires more destructive. In California, the critically dry vegetation combined with 50- to 90-mph winds this past week created the “perfect storm” of risks.
USC Environmental Studies professor and climate scientist Monalisa Chatterjee, who studies how societies can adapt to climate change, says that human attempts to control fire may work temporarily, but eventually hits breaking point.
“In the past, we’ve been resisting it — let’s not allow any fires to happen, because fires are bad. But in reality, that ended up accumulating so much fuel that now, wherever there is any kind of fire events, we are seeing that it is escalating because there’s so much material available to burn,” said Chatterjee.