Background Briefing: December 6, 2018 | Howard Blume sits in for Ian Masters
The Fires Next Time
The November wildfire in Paradise, California killed at least 85 people. The same month the Woolsey fire in South California killed 3 and destroyed 1500 structures in Malibu and nearby areas. What have we learned? Today we are joined by two journalists who have covered the fires from different perspectives as well as the Director of a land trust who had to confront the dangers in the aftermath of the Malibu fires firsthand.
First we are joined by Bettina Boxall, an LA Times reporter who covers water issues and the environment and shared the 2009 Pulitzer Prize for a five-part series that explored the causes and effects of escalating wildfire in the West.
Then we bring in Kerry Cavanaugh, an editorial writer for the LA Times where she has recently been covering the wildfires.
We are then joined by Ezekiel Schlais, Executive Director of the Mountains Restoration Trust, which is dedicated to preserving the natural and cultural resources of the Santa Monica Mountains.