A year ago Los Angeles woke up to a red sky. Schools closed, and families packed into cars not knowing when or if they would return. In the end many couldn’t. The series of destructive fires that lasted throughout January also hurt those whose homes did not burn down―they displaced communities, strained public services, damaged infrastructure and worsened air quality for millions.
On the anniversary of the Palisades and Eaton fires, it’s easy to assume catastrophic fires are the new American reality. But they don’t have to be. If we can take advantage of technological innovations, we may be able to create a future that avoids such devastation.
Last year’s fires around Los Angeles showed that wildfire is a complex hazard, shaped by how we build, govern and respond. Across the country millions of Americans live in the wildland-urban interface, where homes and flammable landscapes meet. But many of these communities lack the resources to prepare for major fires or recover from them. Meanwhile hotter, drier weather that drives longer fire seasons is increasing risk.