How have urban development patterns in California, particularly in LA, exacerbated wildfire risks?

James Pogue and Leighton Woodhouse discuss the LA fires following Leighton’s piece in the Free Press “LA Was Built to Burn.”

The conversation explores the ecological, political, and cultural factors contributing to the wildfire crises across Los Angeles and beyond. We shed light on the human and environmental stakes in a burning state.

Leighton Woodhouse is a journalist and documentary filmmaker based in Oakland, California. He has written for The Intercept, The New Republic, The Nation, Tablet, UnHerd, and other publications.