1205: The Community Group Rethinking LA's Approach To Wildfires episode artwork

EPISODE · Jan 7, 2026 · 14 MIN

1205: The Community Group Rethinking LA's Approach To Wildfires

from Science Friday · host Science Friday

A year ago this week, the Eaton and Palisades fires broke out in Los Angeles, and ultimately became one of the most destructive urban fire events in recent history. Today we’ll hear about a community brigade that is taking firefighting into its own hands through a technique called “home hardening.”Journalist Adriana Cargill, host of the new podcast “The Palisades Fire: A Sandcastle Special” from PRX, embedded with this group to understand what the future of firefighting could look like. She and Jack Cohen, a former research scientist with the USDA Forest Service, join Host Flora Lichtman to explain the science behind how people can prevent their own homes from burning.Guests:Adriana Cargill is a multimedia journalist and host of the podcast “The Palisades Fire: A Sandcastles Special.” She is based in Los Angeles, California.Dr. Jack Cohen is a former research physical scientist with the USDA Forest Service, based in Missoula, Montana.Transcripts for each episode are available within 1-3 days at sciencefriday.com.Subscribe to this podcast. Plus, to stay updated on all things science, sign up for Science Friday's newsletters.

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Jan 7, 2026

Embed this episode

One year after the LA fires, the Community Brigade is equipping residents to prepare for, fight, and recover from wildfires.

Distinct summary based on available episode metadata or transcript content.

NOW PLAYING

1205: The Community Group Rethinking LA's Approach To Wildfires

0:00 14:18

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

No similar episodes found.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Science Friday?

This episode is 14 minutes long.

When was this Science Friday episode published?

This episode was published on January 7, 2026.

Can I download this Science Friday episode?

Yes. Use the download control on the episode player to save the publisher-provided media file.
URL copied to clipboard!