When Wildfire Comes

The Dixie Fire was an enormous wildfire that burned almost 1 million acres in Butte, Plumas, Lassen, Shasta, and Tehama counties in Northern California.   The wildfire damaged or destroyed several rural communities in the Sierra Nevada mountains, including Greenville, CA.  This dynamic visualization (https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/4993) shows the spread of the Dixie Fire between July 14 and October 22, 2021, which enables listeners to follow along with Chief Norman, as he describes the fire’s nearly uncontrollable path of mass destruction.

Fire weather refers to the specific atmospheric conditions, such as extremely low humidity and high winds, that make it easier for wildfires to ignite, spread rapidly, and become difficult to control. Matthew Mehle, Lead Meteorologist and Spotter Program Manager for the San Francisco Bay Area Weather Forecast Office talks in depth about increase in fire weather days across the western U.S. and about the winds that have driven wildland blazes into urban areas across California. This is "master class" on fire weather and climate change.

On the one-year anniversary of the events of the 2025 wildfires in Los Angeles County, Eaton Fire survivor and Altadena home-owner Kelly Etter recounts a heartfelt story of loss and recovery. The Eaton Fire began on the evening of January 7, 2025 when powerful Santa Anna winds drove a small wildland blaze into the city of Altadena, ultimately killing 19 people and destroying more than 9,000 structures. This is an episode of community healing from such a devastating loss.

The Thomas Fire started on December 4, 2017, burning 281,893 acres and destroying over 1000 structures, many in the coastal city of Ventura CA.  Andy Ortega, who served for 37 years with the Ventura County Fire Department, recounts the dramatic events of those days when this historic wildfire destroyed his home and many others in Ventura.

The Caldor Fire started on  August 14, 2021, burning 221,835 acres and destroying 1,005 structures in the Eldorado National Forest in northern California. It was the second fire to ever burn to the crest of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, causing the evacuation of South Lake Tahoe.  Captain Brian Newman of CALFIRE recounts the events of this historic wildfire that could not be stopped.

The Tubbs Fire in Sonoma and Napa Counties (CA) started on October 8, 2017 and destroyed 5,643 structures, half of which were homes in the city of Santa Rosa, all destroyed in one day. Capt. Matt Tognozzi tells the story of how this 36,810 acre wildland fire resulted in the deaths of 22 persons and changed perceptions of wildfire in the North Bay Area.

The Glass Fire in Sonoma and Napa Counties (CA) started on September 27, 2020 and destroyed 1,555 structures.  CALFIRE Capt Sean Jerry tells the story of how this 67,484 acre wildland fire burned into small towns and open spaces and was controlled with 23 days.

In the later afternoon of Aug 8, 1997, I rushed home to Los Gatos, a small town in the Santa Cruz Mountains to the south of San Jose.  A  fire had broken out in the hills above town and that we were being asked to evacuate.  I raced home to see helicopters overhead with water tankers attacking flames in the shrublands less than a mile from our home.  The story continues in this inaugural episode of "When Wildfire Comes".