California Burning

Series produced by North State Public Radio

Series image
Image by: Jill Fincher 

A 5-part series deeply exploring of the California wildfire problem. Public Radio Veteran, Matt Fidler, combines on-location interviews with experts who understand wildfire the best, and NPR-style story telling to give listeners a non-political perspective on how to best approach a problem that is becoming increasingly destructive and deadly.

Natural disasters are increasing across the nation. In the West, these disasters often come in the form of wildfire, and perhaps no State understands the true cost of wildfire as California. While the Golden State has always had forest fires, these conflagrations are progressively becoming harder to control and more deadly. At the same time, California’s population has surpassed 40 million, pushing people further into wild spaces that have been adapted to fire. California Burning takes a deep and critical look at how the state’s fire-prone forests have been managed, and how we can all learn from the past to be better stewards of the land and avoid catastrophic wildfires in the future.

Available September 30, 2019


11 Pieces

Order by: Newest First | Oldest First
Piece image
Generic 30 second promo for the 5 part series - California Burning

Bought by KCBX, KALW, KUSU, KSQD Santa Cruz, KWMR and more


  • Added: Aug 20, 2019
  • Length: :30
  • Purchases: 6
Caption: Dr. James Lewis and Smokey
On the first episode of California Burning, we explore the history of the Forestry Department, and how a series of unprecedented wildfires lead to ...

Bought by Capital Public Radio, KSKA, KVCR, KCBX, WMRA and more


  • Added: Sep 27, 2019
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 14
Caption: Margo Robbins gathering hazel sticks
On the second episode of California Burning, Matt visits the Yurok Reservation in Northern California to visit Margo Robbins, President of the Cult...

Bought by KZYX, Capital Public Radio, KSKA, KVCR, WMRA and more


  • Added: Sep 27, 2019
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 13
Caption: Shasta-Trinity Forest Rangers Randy Paris, Dan Ostermann, Kevin Osbourne and Carol Underhill
On the third episode of California Burning, we talk to many people who are or have been working directly with fire - both deep in the forests, and ...

Bought by Capital Public Radio, KSKA, KVCR, WMRA, KCBX and more


  • Added: Sep 27, 2019
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 12
Caption: Jim Hautman and Calli-Jane showing an open forest burn scar
On the fourth episode of California Burning we focus on the issues surrounding fires where the urban and wild spaces meet. We hear from people who ...

Bought by Capital Public Radio, KVCR, KSKA, WMRA, KALW and more


  • Added: Sep 27, 2019
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 12
Caption: Brennan Byrd holding a piece of Cob building material
On the fifth and final episode of California Burning, we look for solutions that address the many different factors associated with the wildfires p...

Bought by Capital Public Radio, KVCR, WMRA, KSKA, KALW and more


  • Added: Sep 27, 2019
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 12
Caption: James Lewis and Smokey
Smokey Bear was the most successful advertising campaign of all time. And the success of his message "Only YOU can prevent Forest Fires" might be a...

Bought by KCBX, KUSU, KSQD Santa Cruz, KRCB 104.9, WOUB and more


  • Added: Sep 27, 2019
  • Length: 03:47
  • Purchases: 6
Caption: Margo Robbins
Take a journey to the Yurok Indian Reservation in the Klamath River in Northern California to learn how the Native Californians used fire to groom ...

Bought by KCBX, KUSU, KRCB 104.9, KSQD Santa Cruz, Valley Public Radio and more


  • Added: Sep 27, 2019
  • Length: 03:54
  • Purchases: 7
Caption: Zeke Lunder in the Camp Fire Burn Scar
Matt Fidler of California Burning explores why the Autumn wildfires are burning so severely and why they seem to be getting worse. Joined by Pyro-g...

Bought by Valley Public Radio, KRCB 104.9, KCBX, WRST-FM Oshkosh, KUSU and more


  • Added: Sep 27, 2019
  • Length: 03:52
  • Purchases: 8
Caption: Randall Hauser
If you live in a fire prone area, there are ways to keep yourself safe. There are neighborhood organizations called Fire Safe Councils to keep your...

Bought by KRCB 104.9, KCBX, KUSU, KSQD Santa Cruz, Valley Public Radio and more


  • Added: Sep 27, 2019
  • Length: 03:59
  • Purchases: 7
Caption: The Carr Fire burn scar
Forests in California are owned by a wide variety of public and private entities - big and small. But what one owner does with his or her property ...

Bought by KRCB 104.9, KCBX, KUSU, KSQD Santa Cruz, and Northern Community Radio - KAXE & KBXE, Minnesota


  • Added: Sep 27, 2019
  • Length: 03:55
  • Purchases: 5