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The Almeda Fire: The Story of A New Wildfire Era
June 2022
After becoming engrossed in the interconnected science, politics and social issues of increasingly severe and intense wildfires across the Pacific Northwest since producing a short documentary about wildfire in 2021, I connected with professors at the Center for Science Communication at the University of Oregon’s School of Journalism & Communications and began working on a year-long story that would allow a deeper exploration of the complex story of fire. What evolved was a three-part story, cumulatively over two and a half hours of edited audio story, about one fire that burned through Southern Oregon and the individuals and communities it impacted. The episodes explore the Almeda Fire as a case study for our wildfire problem more broadly, and the last episode compares how we prepare for other natural disasters to consider whether we should reevaluate the fire problem entirely.
1 | Only A Matter of Time: Oregon’s First Urban Wildfire
How did a small grass fire turn into Oregon’s most destructive wildfire?
Returning to the initial radio dispatch for a grass fire north of Ashland, Oregon, this episode follows the path of the Almeda Fire as it traveled northward and through the towns of Talent and Phoenix to discover why Oregon’s first urban wildfire overwhelmed firefighting resources but didn’t surprise firefighting experts.
After diving into the science of wildfire risk perception and coming to understand why many Oregonians don’t think a fire will burn nearby until it’s too late, in a neighborhood just north of the edge of the burn, one fire marshal will explain his years-long battle to change how Oregon prepares for wildfire across the state.
2 | Challenges & Opportunity: Rebuilding After Wildfire
What happens after a wildfire burns through a community?
This episode returns to Talent a year and a half after the Almeda Fire destroyed thousands of homes to discover how Oregonians are rebuilding and recovering after the Almeda Fire, and why many homes aren’t being rebuilt as fire resistant as they could be despite persistent fire danger.
The story also highlights how many LatinX, elderly, and economically disadvantaged Oregonians were impacted more by the urban wildfire.
After hearing about challenges with permitting, insurance and supply shortages, one local builder will demonstrate how simple material switches can ensure future homes are rebuilt to withstand wildfires.
3 | Fire & Flooding: Preparing for Natural Hazards
Why is Talent being rebuilt flood resistant but not fire resistant?
Returning to the start of the 20thcentury, this final episode explores how the nation’s history with flooding and fire are shaping the way communities are built back after disasters today and offers insights into why progress in flood preparedness could guide wildfire preparedness today.
Expanding beyond Oregon, the episode travels south, to the populated hillsides of California, to discover the role insurance plays in the fire problem.
Then, combining archival clips with recent legislative and Congressional meetings, the story offers audiences a chance to reflect on current state and federal policy aimed to address the wildfire problem.