I've already updated my show notes from my earlier episode today entitled, "Feral Fire History of California", but many of my listeners never read the show notes. Therefore, I felt obligated to do a quick podcast update. I have referred to the total number of acres burned in California for the years 2019, 2020, and 2021, but those numbers represented the FIRE SUPPRESSION COSTS in US dollars. To see the full referenced report, see below. I'm sorry about the confusion!

"California Fire History: A Visual" by the Western Fire Chiefs Association. Original date of publication November 17, 2022. My version was updated on April 24, 2024. The link above was just updated a few days ago.

*"Thompson Fire" photo by Ron Jones

"Most of California is built to burn: it has fires to match its mountains." -Stephen Pyne, Fire Historian

*ERROR CORRECTION: At 20:40 into the episode, I made a reading error by reporting "Cost of Fire Suppression" in CA mistakenly as the total volume of "Acres Burned." The specifics for "Costs of Suppression" in CA for the three years I mentioned were: 2019=$447 million; 2020=1.23 million; and 2021=$1.17 million. Sorry for the error. (Source: "History of California Wildfires," November 2022; Western Fire Chiefs Association)

Like many, I was overwhelmed by the catastrophic fires recently in Los Angeles. I felt obligated to dive into the actual history of fires in my home state of California. While I thought I had a decent understanding of Native wisdom of forest management to clean the forest and prevent mega-fires, I quickly realized during my last couple of weeks of research that there was a lot more to understand. I hope this episode helps you to better understand the long history of California fires and how important native wisdom was to prevent the current biblical force fires by having more "good" (significantly smaller) cultural burns. 

"We need more burning by good fire-a lot more-while pushing for less by bad fire." -Stephen Pyne

In summary, it's not a water problem; it's a fuel problem.

Here are some important references I mentioned in the episode:

Fire Historian, author, and Arizona State University emeritus professor Stephen Pyne's "Fire Fundamentals: A Primer on Wildland Fire for Journalists"

Coalition of Prescribed Fire Councils (great source of graphics for statistical summaries per year for US fires)

I warned people years ago about a "flashpoint" in Los Angeles that would rage across SoCal like a wildfire ripping residents into anarchy and chaos beyond the Watts and Rodney King riots...the figurative and literal flashpoint has arrived. My deeper concern is that the predicted and pending anarchy and chaos in LA could be a flashpoint for the whole country. Stay aware and on alert.

*Photo Credit: "Thompson Fire" by Ron Jones

*LANGUAGE DISCLAIMER!
Los Angeles fires straight talk and NO BS as a Southern California native whose family moved to California in the 1890s. Enough is enough.
 
*Photo Credit: RJ Yoga @ Huntington Beach, CA

I took a road trip to Missouri a few weeks ago because I had a consulting job for a public health department there for professional development. On this episode, I share some of my journaling thoughts and the importance of road trips and writing things down. Enjoy!

*Photo Credit: "College Street Cafe Dawn" by Ron Jones

I dropped by Costco right before New Year's for a few supplies. While waiting to check out, I noticed twin boys about a year and a half old in the cart in front of me. They had NO devices and were noticing things around them...it's worth a show to discuss the positive benefits of your kids looking around at things besides a ridiculous electronic device.

*Photo by Ron Jones

"You must adjust...This is the creed of the sciences that have sold themselves to the status quo..."

Here's another short passage from psychoanalyst Dr. Robert Linder on what essentially is the current "Conformity Industrial Complex" and the utter insanity of the power whores beating the masses to conform...and sell their souls of humanity in the process. RESIST!

*Source: "Must You Conform?" by Robert Linder (1956)

In Dr. Robert Linder's 1956 book, "Must You Conform?", Linder cites Orwell's "1984" book published in 1949 with this passage from O'Brien the Inquisitor...we have been forewarned...is anyone listening?

*Source: "Must You Conform?" by Robert Linder (1956)

More from psychoanalist Dr. Robert M. Linder's 1956 book, "Must You Conform?" This passage deals with the history of "one" ruling class.

*Source: "Must You Conform?" by Robert Linder (1956)

We return to psychoanalyst Dr. Robert M. Linder (1914-1956) with a passage on the "bed of despair" and how frontiers and outlets for aggression are essential for the health of societies. 

*Source: "Must You Conform?" by Robert Linder (1956)