Stanford Engineering
25 April 2025
Michael Wara is a lawyer and an expert in wildfire policy who says that solutions are out there, but face financial, political, and cultural resistance. What’s needed, he says, are “whole-of-society” approaches that raise wildfire risk to the community level. In this regard, the devastation in Los Angeles in 2025 could provide the spark needed for smarter communication, better policies, and renewed urgency on wildfires, Wara tells host Russ Altman on this episode of Stanford Engineering’s The Future of Everything podcast. Have a question for Russ? Send it our way in writing or via voice memo, and it might be featured on an upcoming episode. Please introduce yourself, let us know where you're listening from, and share your question. You can send questions to thefutureofeverything@stanford.edu. Episode Reference Links: Stanford Profile: Michael WaraConnect With Us: Episode Transcripts >>> The Future of Everything WebsiteConnect with Russ >>> Threads / Bluesky / MastodonConnect with School of Engineering >>> Twitter/X / Instagram / LinkedIn / FacebookChapters: (00:00:00) Introduction Russ Altman introduces guest Michael Wara, a wildfire expert and professor of law at Stanford University. (00:03:17) Journey to Wildfire Research How Michael’s clean energy work led to wildfire research. (00:04:48) Communities at the Frontlines The community-level challenges and responsibilities in fire prevention. (00:07:05) Shifting Community Perspectives How awareness is rising but state efforts remain misaligned. (00:09:28) Legacy Homes, Modern Risk Why older homes pose a major risk and retrofitting is crucial. (00:11:06) The Limits of Utility-Led Safety Efforts The significant but insufficient progress utilities have made. (00:14:35) Targeting High-Risk Areas How utilities now prioritize high-risk areas for safety upgrades. (00:15:42) Insurance Industry Realities Why insurers can't price risk without crashing markets. (00:18:24) Urban Wildfires How today's major fires in suburbs are mostly fueled by homes. (00:23:24) The Climate Change Multiplier The impact of atmospheric dryness and fuel moisture on fire risk. (00:25:57) New Fire Regulations Recent mandates that have been implemented to decrease fire risk. (00:30:58) Hollywood’s Role in Culture Change Michael’s suggestion to showcase fire-safe landscaping. (00:33:04) Conclusion Connect With Us: Episode Transcripts >>> The Future of Everything Website Connect with Russ >>> Threads / Bluesky / Mastodon Connect with School of Engineering >>>Twitter/X / Instagram / LinkedIn / Facebook Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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