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    Back to Greater LA

    Greater LA

    Why controlled burns don’t always effectively prevent wildfires in SoCal

    Fire agencies, politicians, and tribal governments tout prescribed burns as an effective fire mitigation strategy. California needs to use every tool it has amid what’s shaping up to be the largest fire season in state history.

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    Person smiling broadly wearing glasses and plaid shirt against ivy-covered wall background.By Steve Chiotakis • Aug 2, 2021 • 25m Listen

    Fire agencies, politicians, and tribal governments tout prescribed burns as an effective fire mitigation strategy. California needs to use every tool it has amid what’s shaping up to be the largest fire season in state history. But it’s different in Southern California’s chaparral and grasslands than in northern forests. Some residents and fire ecologists say prescribed burns here will do more harm than good.

    In this episode

    2 stories
    1. 0:00

      Fighting fire with fire? Controlled burns may work in NorCal, but not always in SoCal

      This year is expected to be California’s worst wildfire season. That’s after 2020 was the largest wildfire season ever, and before that, it was 2018. Could an effective mitigation strategy be prescribed burns? That’s when firefighters set blazes in areas that can be contained.

      Read the story
      13 min
    2. 12:43

      Nearly a third of California’s firefighters are incarcerated. Jaime Lowe’s new book highlights their stories

      Nearly a third of the crews fighting wildfires in California are serving time in jails and prisons.

      Read the story
      13 min
    • Person smiling broadly wearing glasses and plaid shirt against ivy-covered wall background.

      Steve Chiotakis

      Afternoon News Anchor

    • KCRW placeholder

      Christian Bordal

      Managing Producer, Greater LA

    • KCRW placeholder

      Jenna Kagel

      Radio producer

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Kathryn Barnes

      Producer, Reporter

      CultureNewsWildfiresEnvironmentLos Angeles

    In this episode

    2 stories
    1. 0:0013 min

      Fighting fire with fire? Controlled burns may work in NorCal, but not always in SoCal

    2. 12:4313 min

      Nearly a third of California’s firefighters are incarcerated. Jaime Lowe’s new book highlights their stories

    Back to Greater LA