PBS Terra 
It is WILD how often cities used to burn down. So when fires ripped through LA at the beginning of 2025, we wondered: are urban firestorms BACK?
In 1871, nearly a third of Chicago burned down. In 1889, 25 blocks of Seattle went up in flames. Modern buildings and firefighting solved the problem. So, how is this happening again? And why is it getting worse? To find out, we went to LA while the fires were still burning. Our crew was on the ground from day one. We interviewed top fire officials and leading scientists. And, we learned exactly what went wrong in LA – and the ONE THING that could stop these UNSTOPPABLE fires.
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About The Author
climate factor perhaps
but humans do have foresight isn't it?
also about managing risk is undoubtedly important do not look lightly on this
Really?😒
15:40. This man gon sit here and LIE straight to our faces … He know damn well more trucks and manpower would have helped .. but NO he just sits here BOLD face lie
maybe the USA is a land of free….
of making excuses
Brilliant production values and editing. Well done Team! Sincere condolences to families and others who suffered losses in these horrific LA fires. Fire prevention and awareness is certainly proactivr measures better than putting out spread fires.
I used to want a house in LA. Now I belive once of these years the fire will win.
Good portion of these fires could have been mitigated by proper infrastructure inspections, brush, and undergrowth abatement, PG&E has let this happen, So Cal Edison International has also now, they will both pass the cost onto customers as PG&E is now well into the future. No one went to jail for the people that died because these Power Companies can't maintain their equipment properly, clearly there was negligence on the issue if not an intent to not maintain, a ledger of maintenance and equipment upkeep and inspections would have proven a lack of on PG&E, will have to see the excuses So Cal Edison comes with other than denial.
Willfully or not, this documentary didn't ever address the prevalent start and cause of these fires such as the Camp Fire, Dixie Fire, Zogg Fire, Kinkade Fire, Tubbs Fire, North Bay Fires, Thomas Fires, Creek Fire, Woolsey Fire, the Hurst Fire and the Eaton Fire. All caused by the electrical utilities. Why isn't the focus centered on fire prevention covered here? This wouldn't be a reoccurring issue if big money and politics wasn't at play within our state, county and city government. The investigation and prevention of these wildfires would be much better suited. This documentary seems to lie blame with the home owners and the building codes that aren't mandated much less funded by the government. I am typing this as a displaced wildfire survivor that experienced multiple failures from the alert notification, the fire department, the water supply and pressure, and the post-fire bureaucratic red tape . With all due respect to PBS, this reporting felt very junior. Respectfully, you need to ask the right questions and dig deeper.
very informative and eye opening. Kudos to the great job you've All done.
80 mile an hour winds, and Fire that is abnormally hotter than what forest fires normally are. burning homes to ashes not even the frame of the home is left. All appliances burned down to ashes as well and vehicles. What caused the fires? How many fires started up at the same time? The fact that there was no water coming out of the fire hydrants didnt help at all , except help burn homes.
Many years ago fires never started because of winds. Usually fires started then the winds came.
I dont believe that those are natural fires, and its very possible that the smart meters may be starting fire the fires or the Lazer beams.
The Gavin Bass fires😂😂😂
Burning Grass ,THC plants gone wrong .
The propaganda story. 100,000,000 % dewed
Weather controlling crime inals and their pyrotechnics anyhow
A major factor is the real estate development market. With so much population. Since the 1970’s , developers have been encroaching into areas that are closer to the woodlands and in older areas, creating developments that are substantial.y tighter packed in limited space. Many have been created by Real Estate Investment Trusts. More concerned with quick cheap construction and greater lot/ unit potentials. Such rapid expansion has exacerbated the potential for larger urban type mega fires.
Clues as to the type of construction materials and methods should be taken from the structures that survived the conflagrations. Despite their proximity to others that were devastated. Such materials, methods and above all, allowable concentrations should paramount in any expansion / rebuilding planning.
While the changing climate conditions are something that are above the realm of local possibilities as are weather patterns, it is possible to limit construction. Naturally, this will cause protests from the real estate parties as it will diminish their profits considerably. However, without such limits, there us a greater chance of similar property damage and loss of life.
Propaganda, dont buy what they are selling. Its weather manipulating crime inals and their pyrotechnics. Aka directed energy.
Prop agan da story. 100,000,000 % dewed
trees unburned
25:56 the long shot of the tree falling here is great editing
A lot more people could have perished
you need to build fireproof home earth houses or whatever works for you, concrete house
Newscum pre-warned of the winds to come and as usual does absolutely nothing, more interested in public Drug users rights.
Thank you for this….
The one thing they did not mention was the Sunset Fire, that burned briefly for an evening during the height of the larger fires, and it temporarily diverted resources all the way to Hollywood where it burned on Runyon Canyon very close to the houses, and reinforced the chaos and panic felt by so many in those days. I was under mandatory evacuations for that fire, and the chaos of that evening ate up valuable time for the firefighters and aircraft that responded, that could have been used on the larger fires.
You want to fix this? Shut down the power companies, put everyone on massive solar combined with wind, individualized, power supplies, and end the grid. The grid is what's spreading the fires, and sometimes, also causing them.
Oh, and CA, do your F'n Controlled Burns. You used to do those, but oh, nos! That costs money. Well, so does THIS.
Another huge mistake being made all over the country is housing being put on lots that are too tiny. Packing housing in like sardines is causing a lot of the trouble, especially for escaping. The further apart the houses and other buildings are (also the fewer cars allowed in parking lots), the more likely it is that people are going to be able to not bottleneck while escaping. More turnoffs, etc.
Another dumb thing they did in Palisades? Building on hills. Ridiculous beyond belief. The zoning people begged for this to happen. Don't build in hilly areas. Duh.