We are working on a video series called ‘Danger in Plain Sight’ on The Lookout YouTube about wildfire hazards in Los Angeles, and how what many people perceive as being beautiful is actually super dangerous.
Retired Cal Fire FBANs Tim Chavez and Denny O’Neil and I took a film crew and rode around for a week on ebikes in Bel Air, Beverly Hills, Hollywood Hills, the Eaton Fire, and Palisades Fire.
Here is a new video related to that series, with the series trailer at the end of the post.
The actual series will roll out on August 8th on The Lookout YouTube.
This makes me reflect on a few of my off-seasons spent working for a landscaping outfit on the central coast - this was when xeriscaping became all the rage. As i got a little further along in my FS carer i had a coming to jesus moment driving up the 101 to Gilroy and seeing the iceplant (Mesembryanthemum) burning just fine and i’ve never looked at landscaping vegetation the same way after that. Also, after spending time in the FLA on a crew it all became very very clear that my perceptions of what was/wasnt available fuel needed serious re-calibration!! It’s all fuel / potential energy for fires - no mater how wet/green it looks. #greenstuffbunstoo! \m/
Ha, I remember in the early 80’s seeing a film in a Forestry Class at Humboldt State called “The Green Fireman,” celebrating the role of iceplant as fire safe landscape element. I believe the film was sponsored by the Cedar Shake and Shingle manufacturers association or some such.