Two renowned fire experts, Jack Cohen and Stephen Pyne, reveal uncomfortable realities about the devastating fires that recently swept through Los Angeles and Altadena, claiming 11 lives and destroying over 12,000 structures.
According to Cohen and Pyne, the magnitude of destruction could have been prevented through better understanding and management of fire risks. Their decades of research and experience offer critical insights that challenge common assumptions about wildfire behavior and prevention.
"It may be the fire equivalent of a Category 5 hurricane," says Pyne, professor emeritus at Arizona State University. The current crisis could become the costliest wildfire disaster in American history.
Rethinking Urban Fire Risk
Cohen argues that these aren't simply wildland fires - they're urban fires. The destruction pattern shows that wind-driven embers, not advancing flame fronts, cause most damage by creating spot fires miles ahead of the main blaze.
"When you study the destruction in Pacific Palisades and Altadena, note what didn't burn — unconsumed tree canopies adjacent to totally destroyed homes," Cohen explains. This observation challenges the common belief that a "tsunami of super-heated gases" causes the devastation.
Prevention Over Suppression
Both experts emphasize that current firefighting approaches fall short during extreme conditions. L.A. County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone acknowledged insufficient resources to combat the emergency.
"We have fire departments that are continually telling us that they're going to protect us when they can't during the extreme wildfire conditions," Cohen notes, highlighting an unrealistic sense of security.
Practical Solutions
The experts recommend:
- "Home-hardening" strategies like fire-resistant siding
- Proper landscaping and collective brush clearing
- Regular vegetation management within 10 feet of homes
- Rethinking urban development in fire-prone areas
"We don't have to solve climate change in order to solve our community wildfire risk problem," Cohen states, suggesting immediate actions communities can take.
Historical Perspective
Pyne draws parallels to past urban fires, noting that cities successfully adapted after the 1871 Great Chicago Fire through improved building codes and infrastructure. However, these defenses weakened as cities expanded.
"We've always had fire as a companion, and it's been our best friend," Pyne concludes. "And now, because we're not minding that relationship, it's become our worst enemy."