Flightless Bird – "LA Wildfires" (January 21, 2025)
Host: David Farrier
Co-host: Rob
Theme: Exploring the unprecedented LA wildfires of January 2025 through first-hand accounts, community responses, the practical realities of disaster, and the unique American context—told with curiosity, empathy, and candid reflection.
Episode Overview
David Farrier and Rob tackle the chaos and trauma of the recent Los Angeles wildfires, sharing the surreal experience of witnessing disaster unfold in their own city. They move beyond the headlines, capturing the lived reality: from eerie normalcy blocks away from devastation, to personal loss and community mobilization. The episode weaves together their own observations, listener stories, expert interviews, and the unsung heroes of the crisis—all infused with empathy, dry humor, and Kiwi-in-America wonder.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Personal Experience: Watching Disaster Unfold
-
Disruption of Normalcy:
- Despite blue skies and clean air in their neighborhood, both hosts grapple with the dissonance between normalcy and the catastrophic losses just miles away.
“Our neighborhood seems fine, the sky is blue… But meanwhile the city is grappling with so much loss and so much chaos and just trying to figure, like, what the hell is going on.”
— David Farrier (02:43) -
Surprise and Escalation:
- The wildfires felt sudden even with Santa Ana wind warnings; expectations were of minor disruption, but instead, entire neighborhoods burned overnight.
- “It was the first time I felt unsafe in weather… I just looked out to the left and there was just this glow of red… That’s when the Eaton fire had kicked off.”
— David Farrier (05:26)
2. Community and Chaos: Living Through It
- Spontaneous Neighbor Connections:
- In the absence of clear official guidance, neighbors began checking on each other, reminiscent of the early pandemic confusion.
“It felt like the beginning of the pandemic where there was no official line of, like, what you’re meant to do.”
— David Farrier (07:37) - Evacuation Stories & Anxiety:
- Real-time fear as evacuation orders blare overnight, windows are blown out, and power goes out citywide.
3. The Changing Nature of California Wildfires
- Scale and Ferocity:
- Listeners and hosts alike note these fires move faster and burn more fiercely—“apocalyptic” is a word that keeps surfacing.
- Historical context from listeners: While wildfires have always plagued southern California, the sheer force and frequency are escalating.
- Climate & Urban Expansion:
- Drought, wind, and proximity of wildland to dense urban neighborhoods are a “perfect storm.”
4. Wildfire Responses: The Strange American Patchwork
- Private Firefighters for the Rich:
- Wealthy homeowners in LA hire private fire protection services, underscoring the unequal American approach to disaster.
“If you’ve got money… you can have someone… protecting your home, that’s happening.”
— David Farrier (12:17) - Incarcerated Firefighters:
- Prisoners join firefighting crews for sentence reduction; hosts discuss the ethics and the reality of incarcerated labor in disaster response.
“It’s horrific that prisoners… are being sent into these life-threatening situations, they’re not trained firefighters.”
— David Farrier (13:44)
5. Misinformation & Polarization
- Conspiracy Theories and Political Spin:
- Wildfires spark conspiracy theories (weather manipulation, “directed energy weapons”) and are weaponized in political arguments, especially about budget cuts and failed management.
“With every disaster in America, there can be slithers of truth, but also don’t believe every tweet you read.”
— David Farrier (15:21)
6. Health Hazards Beyond the Flames
- Air Quality Anxiety:
- Toxic debris from burned homes (lead, asbestos, plastics) poses invisible, long-term danger; comparison to 9/11 first responders’ health fallout is noted.
- Behavioral Changes (Masks, Purifiers):
- Daily routines transform: hosts wear masks outdoors, obsess over air purifier readouts.
7. Economic Fallout and Disaster Profiteering
- Rent Gouging:
- Displaced residents face sudden spikes in rental prices; the community responds by making and sharing a “shit list” of gouging realtors.
“Realtors in LA… always being slightly, you know… It takes a certain kind of piece of shit to try to turn this into a money making exercise.”
— Rob (21:01, 21:14) - Insurance Crisis:
- Growing failures of the insurance system: dropped fire coverage, slow payouts, and bureaucratic nightmares for survivors.
8. Stories from the Frontlines
A. Loss & Resilience: Lydia’s Story ([26:23–34:39])
- Lydia and her husband, creatives living in Altadena, lost their house while abroad.
- The surreal ordeal of learning you’ve lost everything via texts on the other side of the world; heartbreak over lost art, mementoes, life’s work.
“You never think that it’s gonna happen to you… all those little things, yes, it’s just stuff, but when you’re faced with the reality of losing it, it’s a really hard thing.”
— Lydia (31:09) - Uplifting side: Immediate, overwhelming support from friends, neighbors, and strangers; community caring for the displaced.
“So many people have offered to let us stay in their homes indefinitely free of charge… The community, it’s been really amazing to watch.”
— Lydia (33:11)
B. Survivor Perspective: Mike Rothschild ([36:16–43:20])
- Mike, a journalist and conspiracy theory expert, recounts escaping his 100-year-old Altadena home with his family in the middle of the night as the fire overtook their neighborhood.
- Details the fog-of-war in disaster (confused orders, no power, zigzagging evacuation), and the emotional numbness of survival.
“You really, you have no choice. We’ve got young kids, we’ve got dogs, we have all these things that need to be done… You’re just trying to take it kind of minute by minute.”
— Mike Rothschild (40:38) - Notes unique multigenerational nature and diversity of Altadena; the tragedy is not just material loss, but the erasure of community and history.
C. Community Organizing: Mutual Aid LA ([50:11–52:29])
- Ellie Christie describes the relentless, improvisational efforts to help the newly unhoused and those impacted, outside of slow-moving official structures.
“While it’s been frantic and devastating… it’s also been so wonderful to see the outpouring of support and community care…”
— Ellie Christie (51:30)
9. Tech & Information in Disaster: Watch Duty App Deep Dive ([54:21–70:03])
- The wildfire tracking app becomes the episode’s unlikely hero—a nonprofit, volunteer-driven tool that offers real-time, clear, actionable information when official sources lag.
“It’s the most useful information and the most clearly presented information you could have.”
— David Farrier (54:54) - Interview with Nick Russell of Watch Duty:
- Background of the app, its origins in a tech entrepreneur’s personal wildfire crisis, now expanded to 22 states.
- Explains the use of real-time first-responder feeds, user-first privacy, and how open data and context (rather than fearmongering) save lives.
- Notable story: A user alerts elderly parents to evacuate; a celebrity’s pool is used to refill fire engines, saving homes.
- Hosts call for Watch Duty to win App of the Year, marveling at its clarity and not-for-profit mission.
10. Unintended Consequences: Leaf Blowers & Airborne Toxins ([71:01–74:41])
- City bans leaf blowers due to the risk of stirring up toxic ash and embers; yet, residents and workers keep using them.
- Dilemma: is it fair to yell at landscapers just doing their job?
“I just like, a crazy person went to the window, and I just, like, screamed, like, stop blowing.”
— David Farrier (73:37)
11. Listener Voice Memos: Expanding the Perspective
- Historical perspective from Zoe (76:02):
- Fires have always been part of life in Malibu, but they are much more intense and fast-moving now.
- Science/Epidemiology (Alyssa, 79:22):
- Southern U.S. actually sees more wildfires by count than the West; American fires are everywhere.
- Wildland firefighter Carsten (81:00):
- Emphasizes the overlooked respiratory risks to firefighters/locals; notes the brutal shifts required.
- "Smokejumpers" Factoid (85:06):
- Introduction to elite airborne firefighters parachuting into remote blazes—a topic the hosts vow to revisit.
Notable Quotes, Moments & Timestamps
-
On Private Firefighters & Inequality:
“Everything in America, it’s not all state funded… If you’re wealthy, you can have someone… protecting that home.”—David Farrier (12:17) -
On Prison Labor Ethics:
“It’s horrific that prisoners… are being sent into these life-threatening situations, they’re not trained firefighters.”—David Farrier (13:44) -
On Information Overload and Fear:
“What do we need to be scared of today? Is it the air I’m breathing?”—David Farrier (18:46) -
On Community Spirit in Crisis:
“A lot of people already transplants here… It’s like this band of misfits.” — Rob (53:21) -
On Watch Duty's Power:
“Direct, actionable information… because we’re a nonprofit… we don’t want your name, or your email address.” — Nick Russell (57:52) -
On Loss and Grief:
“Yes, it’s just stuff, but when you’re faced with the reality of losing it, it’s a really hard thing.” — Lydia (31:09) -
On the Relentlessness of Disaster Response:
"They're working two weeks straight, minimum of 16 hour shifts per day." — Carsten (Wildland firefighter) (83:15)
Flow & Tone
The tone is candid and sincere, shifting fluidly from dark humor (“apocalyptic is an overused word, but…”) to vulnerability (admitting confusion, fear, or survivor’s guilt), and deep empathy for those blindsided by loss.
- The conversational Kiwi-American outsider's lens highlights the eccentricities of U.S. disaster response and politics.
- The show takes frequent digressions into granular, very human moments—fear, frustration, generosity, even arguing (a bit sheepishly) with leaf blowers about the air.
- Even as the hosts, guests, and listeners ride the anxiety and trauma of disaster, community solidarity and resourcefulness remains a constant thread.
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 00:00–02:58: Opening mood-setting, context, and immediate personal impact
- 03:00–10:59: Recounting the wildfire onset, regional reaction, and early confusion
- 12:17: Private firefighters and inequality
- 13:44: Incarcerated firefighters and ethics
- 17:14–18:50: Air quality fears and social media panic
- 19:40–21:18: Price gouging and insurance issues
- 26:23–34:39: Lydia’s story of loss and resilience
- 36:16–43:20: Mike Rothschild’s evacuation and aftermath
- 50:11–52:29: Mutual Aid LA’s grassroots response
- 54:21–70:03: Watch Duty app deep dive: origins, impact, and growth
- 71:01–74:41: Leaf blower anxiety in a toxic landscape
- 76:02–78:34: Listener Zoe’s history of California wildfires
- 81:00–83:34: Firefighter’s view on overlooked dangers
- 85:06: "Smokejumpers" and American firefighting ingenuity
Closing: Meaning, Loss & Community
The episode concludes on notes of existential anxiety and meaning (what is lost, what is remembered, what is truly valuable), but ultimately reframes it through the lens of lived experience, the persistence of community, and the camaraderie of strangers in the face of loss.
“It’s one thing musing about this stuff when all our things are there… It’s another thing when it’s all been lost in a fire.”
— David Farrier (97:40)
Takeaways
- Wildfires are a growing, “apocalyptic” fact of life—accelerating in speed, scale, and complexity.
- Disaster is managed both by institutions and, crucially, by neighbors, volunteers, and mutual aid.
- Tech, when built for people instead of profit, can be literal lifesavers—exemplified by Watch Duty.
- The American experience of crisis is deeply marked by inequality, political division, resilience, and generosity.
- Loss is traumatic on a practical and existential level, but is countered by community, memory, and meaning.
Further resources, mutual aid links, and stories referenced in the show notes.
(For voice memo and interview quotes, speaker attribution and timestamps are embedded above.)