Note: This episode deals with wildfires and the damage they inflict on the built environment, topics that some may find challenging.
Between 1980 and 2024 the U.S. had 23 wildfires that individually caused more than $1 billion in damage, with 18 of those occurring since 2000, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Wildfire seasons are lasting longer and fires are causing more damage. In this episode of Sustainability Leaders, I had the opportunity to sit down with Dr. Kimiko Barrett, Wildfires Researcher and Policy Analyst with Headwaters Economics.
Our conversation focused on the growing costs of wildfires in North America and what would be done to prevent damage to homes and communities.
"Usually it's only about two to three homes that ignite at once and quickly overwhelm firefighting defense forces," Barrett said. "And one of the best ways of addressing this and the most effective is through building materials and thinking very deliberately about the components of the home itself and how do you make them more resilient to this increasing risk."
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Helpful Links:
Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters | National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)