Surviving Fire Season, with Clare Boerigter

Things are heating up in this episode of Non-Toxic. I'm talking to Clare Boerigter, a fire research fellow, science writer, and former wildland firefighter who has been on the front lines of America's increasingly out of control wildfires. Clare shares stories from her three seasons fighting fires, the impact of climate change on wildfires, and the challenges faced by women in the firefighting community. We also explore the science of fire behavior, human encroachment on places likely to burn, and the problem with trying to prevent all wildfires. And Clare generously shares an except from her forthcoming memoir from Beacon Press, Wild Light: Notes from the Safest, Most Dangerous Places.

Further Reading:

The age of the “megafire”

Women fighting forest fires say abuse is rife – but men often go unpunished

How to Save a Forest by Burning It

Wildfires Will Put $11 Billion Worth of U.S. Property at Risk Every Year by 2050

Damage from sprawling Prospect Park brush fire may take years to repair, officials say