California's Wildfire Crisis Discussed at Festival of Books
At the LA Times Festival of Books, a panel titled 'Fire Escape: Wildfires and the Changing Geography of Southern California' addressed the state's ongoing wildfire crisis. Moderated by climate reporter Blanca Beert, the discussion featured authors Jordan Thomas and DJ Waldy. They emphasized that while climate change exacerbates wildfires, the crisis is deeply rooted in historical land management practices. Thomas highlighted the ecological role of fire and the vulnerabilities created by over a century of fire suppression. Waldy stressed the importance of historical memory in understanding fire as a permanent aspect of the Los Angeles landscape.