The Intelligence from The Economist Great walls of fire: America’s west coast burns
Sep 11, 2020
Katrine Bragg, Environment editor at The Economist, dives into the increasing menace of wildfires on America's west coast. She discusses how climate change and urban sprawl elevate fire risks and emphasizes urgent needs for improved prevention measures. Bragg highlights innovative housing designs aimed at coexisting with wildfires and advocates for updated building codes to combat these escalating threats. The conversation also touches on the alarming rise of vaccine hesitancy driven by misinformation and examines the dark evolution of motorcycle gangs in northern Europe.
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Western Wildfires: A Double Threat
- Wildfires in the American West are worsened by climate change and urbanization in woodland areas.
- These factors create a dangerous combination of more intense fires and greater human damage.
Fueling the Flames: Fire Suppression's Paradox
- Historical fire suppression policies in California have increased wildfire risk.
- Suppressing smaller fires allows flammable undergrowth to build up, leading to catastrophic blazes.
Coexisting with Fire: Building Smarter Communities
- Build fire-resistant communities by using appropriate building materials and vegetation management.
- Design neighborhoods that allow fires to sweep through with minimal damage or to move around structures entirely.