Smokey Bear is arguably the most effective advertising campaign in American history—but Smokey’s message created a fear in many of us that’s led to a misunderstanding of fire.

California Burning: Episode 1—Our History With Fire

Natural disasters are increasing across the nation. In the West, these disasters often come in the form of wildfire, and perhaps no state understands the true cost of wildfire like California. The Golden State has always had forest fires, but they're progressively becoming harder to control and more deadly. At the same time, the state's population has surpassed 40 million, pushing people further into wild spaces that have been adapted to fire. California Burning takes a critical look at how the state's fire-prone forests have been managed and examines how we can all be better stewards of the land and avoid catastrophic wildfires in the future. California Burning is a special radio series and podcast from North State Public Radio. Produced by Matt Fidler, Sarah Bohannon and Gregg McVicar.

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California Burning: Episode 1—Our History With Fire

California Burning: Episode 1—Our History With Fire