Podcast Summary: Boiling Point introduces: Rebuilding L.A.
Podcast: Boiling Point (LA Times Studios)
Episode: Rebuilding LA (from the Rebuilding LA podcast)
Air Date: September 4, 2025
Host: Kate Cagle
Featured Guests:
- Alex Hall (UCLA, fire and climate scientist)
- Haley Smith (LA Times environment reporter)
- Ian James (LA Times, climate and water reporter)
- Kristin Swardoski (Altadena fire survivor)
Episode Overview
This episode dives deep into how Los Angeles is confronting the reality of increasingly frequent and severe wildfires, supercharged by climate change. Host Kate Cagle speaks with scientists, community members, and journalists to explore both the personal and systemic challenges of rebuilding after fires. The discussion covers: the science behind California’s fire-prone climate, how climate change is escalating the crisis, on-the-ground stories of loss and resilience, adaptation strategies for future disasters, and the state’s policy responses.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Personal Stories: The Human Cost of Wildfire
[00:45 – 06:56]
- Kristin Swardoski, Pasadena nurse and Altadena resident, recounts the devastation of losing her home in recent wildfires, the decision to rebuild, and the emotional and financial uncertainties her family and neighbors now face.
- She describes Altadena as a deeply rooted, resilient community and expresses hope for a future that restores both safety and neighborly connections.
- Notable quote:
“I'm not really sure it's that exciting because, you know, we want our old house back... At least, hopefully in my and my husband's lifetime, a new house will last that long and we will be there for then.” (Kristin Swardoski, 03:36)
- She voices concern about soaring costs, homeowner insurance, meeting new fire safety regulations, and whether their community will return.
“A question I think about probably every day. Am I going to be able to get homeowners insurance? All these little worries that you have.” (Kristin Swardoski, 05:45)
2. California’s Fire Ecology and the Role of Climate Change
[08:59 – 15:25]
Historical Context & Environmental Conditions
- California has always burned; wildfires shaped its ecosystems and are embedded in the region’s climate.
“California has always burned. In fact, there are reports of early, early Spanish explorers looking out from their ships and seeing smoke billowing above the coastline as far back as the 1500s.” (Kate Cagle, 08:59)
- Recent fires were fueled by a triple threat: lush vegetation from wet winters, deeply dried out by record heat and unusually arid months, and fanned by powerful Santa Ana winds.
- Fine fuels (dried grasses/chaparral) now make hillsides tinderboxes.
Influence of Climate Change
- Warming increases vegetative dryness, making extreme fire behavior more likely.
“The extreme heat accounted for about 25% of the dryness of the vegetation at that time...without the influence of climate change, the fires probably would have been somewhat smaller and easier to fight.” (Ian James, 13:55)
- Climate change serves as a background amplifier, not the sole cause, but a key exacerbating factor.
3. The Mechanics and Mystique of the Santa Ana Winds
[15:07 – 18:19]
- Santa Ana winds, blowing from inland deserts, accelerate over mountains and valleys, drying already-parched landscapes and making fire control nearly impossible during peaks.
- Joan Didion’s essay cited for capturing the psychological impact:
“Los Angeles weather is the weather of catastrophe, of apocalypse...the wind shows us how close to the edge we are.” (Haley Smith quoting Didion, 16:50)
- While Santa Ana wind intensity isn’t increasing (and may even decrease with further warming), the “climate whiplash”—oscillation between drought and deluge— increases fire risk.
4. Rebuild Smarter: Recovery, Policy, and Living with Fire
[18:19 – 25:05]
Adapting to a Fiery Future
- Fire is natural and healthy for some ecosystems, but climate change-fueled fires are now larger, faster, and more destructive.
“We are really fighting against a different kind of beast altogether.” (Haley Smith, 19:17)
- Extreme heat is rising rapidly:
“The 10 hottest years on record were all in the last 10 years...projecting that average maximum temperatures in the region are expected to increase 4.5 degrees by mid-century, and 5.8 degrees by late-century.” (Haley Smith, 20:20)
- Recovery from large fires can take 5–10 years or longer—often not allowing time for full recovery before the next major event.
Debates on How to Rebuild
- Some urge a focus on climate-resilient building standards and urban planning rather than simply rebuilding fast.
“We’re so busy trying to see if we can do it that we don’t stop to ask if we should do it.” (Haley Smith, channeling Jurassic Park, 23:22)
- Calls for new government structures to oversee recovery and resilience, and better water/alert systems.
5. The Science of the January Fires: Alex Hall Q&A
[27:25 – 46:52]
Quantifying Climate’s Role
- Dr. Alex Hall breaks down the science:
- Fuels were approximately 25% drier due to climate change, making for larger, faster-spreading fires.
- Simulations are underway to quantify exactly how much bigger fires become under modern warming versus a cooler, historical climate.
- The January wind event was both extreme and “not unprecedented”—what was unique was its timing, coinciding with ultra-dry fuels in the midst of the rainy season, which normally reduces risk.
The Surplus of Fire & Human Role
“In Southern California, we are in a fire surplus relative to what’s ecologically normal...every single big Santa Ana fire that we have is most likely produced by a human ignition source.” (Alex Hall, 33:15)
- Most major wildfires are started by human activity, not nature—meaning prevention can make a crucial difference.
Fire Warning Systems & Behavioral Adaptation
- Hall proposes the creation of a hurricane-style warning system for Santa Ana winds to help the public and authorities take proactive measures.
- Advocates for planned power shutoffs, Wildland access closures, and backup power for critical infrastructure during high-risk events.
- Stresses the need for regional governance coordination.
Housing, Retrofits, and Insurance
- Modern fire codes help: New homes built since 1990 are 40% less likely to burn.
- Strong push for retrofitting old buildings (like earthquake retrofits) and linking insurance rates to home hardening measures.
Urban Sprawl and Evacuation Challenges
- Recent fires threatened denser neighborhoods ("the concrete jungle"), highlighting logistical challenges of mass evacuations and raising concerns that fire risk is growing beyond traditionally high-risk areas.
Climate Action and Hope Amid Uncertainty
- Hall acknowledges public dread about the political climate’s impact on climate progress, but stresses that falling costs for renewables and international commitments bolster momentum.
“...the administration not only seems to want to end our encouragement of decarbonization, it seems like it’s almost like they want to put their thumb on the scale of the oil and gas industry...that feels very frightening. On the other hand, the economics of renewables are so much better...I don’t think it’s the end game for decarbonization.” (Alex Hall, 43:41)
- Finds hope in the scientific community’s response, civic engagement, and the fact that Los Angeles is now actively wrestling with what it means to live in harmony with fire.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
“I just hope that it rebuilds to where it’s that sense of community and safety that you felt before...I’m hoping that it bounces back even better than it was before. And I think it’s possible.”
(Kristin Swardoski, 06:34) -
“California has always burned...From LA Times Studios, this is Rebuilding LA.”
(Kate Cagle, 08:59) -
“A warmer atmosphere is a thirstier atmosphere...That’s the mechanism by which the burning of fossil fuels...are translating into worsening fire risks.”
(Ian James, 14:08) -
“Los Angeles weather is the weather of catastrophe, of apocalypse...the wind shows us how close to the edge we are.”
(Haley Smith quoting Joan Didion, 16:50) -
“There’s a lot of tension between rebuilding better and rebuilding faster and how it should be done. And I think those debates are going to continue to play out.”
(Ian James, 24:37) -
“So, yes, those are hurricane force winds, but unlike a hurricane, they’re very hot and dry...they really are the key ingredient for a really destructive wildfire.”
(Alex Hall, 30:06) -
“Because these fires ultimately are human in origin, we can also prevent them from happening by suppressing ignitions. So that’s an area where I think we have control over this risk.”
(Alex Hall, 34:14) -
“My world is the academic world, and I’ve known so many colleagues who have been galvanized by these fires and are doing research that is new and inspired by helping to protect our communities. ...That’s the kind of thing that I think gives me a lot of hope.”
(Alex Hall, 45:27)
Timestamps for Critical Segments
- 00:45–06:56: Kristin Swardoski’s personal fire story and the Altadena community experience
- 08:59–11:06: Fire ecology and history in California
- 11:06–13:13: January 7th’s environmental setup—wet years, then parched
- 13:42–15:07: Climate change’s role in supercharging the fires
- 15:25–18:19: Santa Ana winds: science, impact, psychology
- 18:19–20:05: Climate whiplash and future heat projections
- 20:05–21:29: Recovery timelines and the challenge of repeated disasters
- 21:29–25:05: Policy debates: Rebuilding smarter or faster?
- 27:25–38:28: Alex Hall’s scientific breakdown (fuel dryness, wind events, simulations, management)
- 38:42–41:55: Building codes, retrofits, and insurance as tools for resilience
- 41:55–43:10: Urban evacuation issues and new risk zones
- 43:41–45:27: National policy mood, hope from local response and science
Concluding Thoughts
This episode reveals the layers of California’s wildfire crisis: It’s not just about rebuilding after disaster, but about reimagining how we live in, govern, and care for fire-prone landscapes. Despite tough truths about rising risks and slow adaptation, the conversation is infused with determination, pragmatism, and hope for a safer, more resilient future.