Inside the policy failures and hard choices behind America’s megafires.

This series examines why wildfires in the American West have grown more frequent and destructive, tracing the roles of fire suppression, forest management, drought, weather, and human ignition. You will explore how Native burning practices, modern bureaucracy, and new prevention strategies collide, revealing a crisis with profound consequences for forests, communities, and the future.

Episode guide

4 episodes

1Burning Down the House

Dive into the early history of fighting forest fires in the United States and the evolution of the Forest Service. How do our current systems compare to Indigenous policies and practices, and is there room for improvement?

46 min

2Jump Into the Fire

Gain a more in-depth understanding of forest management in the United States. Dive deeper into the history of forest fires to see how they changed the American geographical landscape and meet the brave people who fight fires by land, sea and air.

46 min

3Smoke On the Water

There are vast differences between federal and private land management. Reflect on the history of fighting forest fires and examine some of the poor policies and practices that have tainted our progress.

46 min

4Burn Down the Mission

U.S. firefighting policies have led us to a dead end. How can we fix the problems? Advocates aim to steer away from a "fire-industrial complex" and collaborate with the U.S. Forestry Service. Are there better ways to fight fires?

46 min

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