Lever Time The L.A. Fires And The Uninsurable Earth (Part 1)
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Jan 10, 2025 
In a gripping discussion, New York Times reporter David Wallace-Wells, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Elizabeth Kolbert, and former California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones tackle the harrowing impacts of Los Angeles wildfires. They explore the urgent questions of safety, insurance accessibility, and climate crisis response. The conversation highlights the devastating effects of climate change on wildfire frequency and intensity, the shifting patterns of urban wildfires, and the pressing need for policy reforms in disaster preparedness and insurance.
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A New Kind of Fire
- The most striking feature of recent North American fires is their transition from wildland to urban environments.
- Houses become fuel, creating a new type of fire requiring different firefighting and preparation.
Why Urban Fires Are Back
- Climate change intensifies heat, making fires larger and turning more objects into fuel.
- Modern homes, with more petroleum-based products, are less fire-resistant than older homes.
Garcetti's Grim Prediction
- David Wallace-Wells recounts a conversation with former LA Mayor Eric Garcetti about increasing fire risk.
- Garcetti expressed a sense of helplessness, suggesting a return to pre-catastrophic fire conditions is unlikely.
