The Fire Break | Innovations in Wildfire

Steve Wolf | Wildfire Scientist

Explore the wildfire crisis with Steve Wolf, on The Fire Break. Steve brings you the most influential voices in fire science, innovation, politics, and community engagement, sharing the latest strategies for wildfire prevention, mitigation, and recovery. Expect engaging and humorous chats with experts working to steer us through this climate dilemma. New episodes every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

  1. 3D AGO

    How Not to Melt | Ergodyne's Lexi Engelbart

    Ergodyne's heat stress expert Lexi Engelbart breaks down the science of staying cool in the most extreme environments, from industrial job sites to the wildland fire line. Learn about the crucial difference between ambient temperature and Wet Bulb Globe Temperature, the hierarchy of controls for heat safety, and the innovative cooling technologies—like phase change vests—that can protect you when the heat is on. In this episode, you'll learn about: Heat Stress is Universal: Why it's not just a problem for workers, but for everyone. Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT): The gold standard for measuring the real "feels like" temperature. The OSHA Rule: An inside look at the proposed federal rule for heat stress and what it means for worker safety. Water, Rest, Shade: Why these simple principles are the most effective way to mitigate heat stress. Cooling Tech Deep Dive: Exploring the pros and cons of evaporative cooling vs. phase change cooling vests. The Acclimatization Risk: Why the first week on a job in a new, hot environment is the most dangerous. PPE as the Last Resort: Understanding the hierarchy of controls and why engineering solutions come first. Voice of the Customer: How talking to frontline workers inspires the next generation of safety products.

    44 min

  2. 5D AGO

    From Spacecraft Fires to Urban Wildfires | A Conversation with Guillermo Rein

    Professor of Fire Science Guillermo Rein of Imperial College London unveils the shocking discovery of "fire waves"—a new phenomenon where urban green spaces can erupt in hundreds of wildfires. He explains the science behind the 2022 London fire wave, how a metric called Vapor Pressure Deficit (VPD) can predict this risk, and why other traditionally "wet" cities like Seattle and New York could be next. In this episode, you'll learn about: The London Fire Wave: The story of the London Fire Brigade's busiest day since World War II. Vapor Pressure Deficit (VPD): The key meteorological indicator that can predict an urban fire wave after 10 days of high readings. A Warning for Green Cities: Why traditionally humid cities are now at risk for a new type of wildfire disaster. The Science of Smoldering: Why the world's largest fires (in peatlands) often have no flames and get little attention. A Scientist's Duty to Communicate: Why it's critical for scientists to develop the "muscle" of communication to translate complex research for the public. The Long Road from Science to Impact: How a scientific discovery can take years of persistence to become policy or new technology. Our Primal Fascination: A philosophical dive into why humans are so mesmerized by flames.

    54 min

  3. AUG 21

    The EA Veteran Building the Wildfire Video Game of Your Dreams | Eamonn Glass

    Video game developer Eamonn Glass, formerly of Electronic Arts (EA), introduces FIRE, a new cooperative video game where players battle apocalyptic wildfires with futuristic technology. Inspired by the tragic Lytton, B.C. fire, Eamonn's studio, Maggie's Farm, is creating a "combined arms" experience where you "win by saving," aiming to build a more fire-literate generation through engaging and entertaining gameplay. In this episode, you'll learn about: The Genesis of FIRE: How the destruction of a small town sparked the idea for a new kind of game. "Win by Saving": The core philosophy of creating a game centered on rescue and preservation, not destruction. Combined-Arms Firefighting: The five player classes and the high-tech, military-inspired arsenal used to fight fires. A Near-Future Canvas: How a futuristic setting allows for innovative tools like suppressant-firing rocket launchers and in-air retardant refueling. Smokey the Bear for a New Generation: The mission to embed real-world mitigation and resilience lessons into the gameplay. The "Firebase": How players manage their own base, learning about defensible space and fuel reduction to earn in-game benefits. Real-World Partnerships: Plans to incorporate real fire tech from innovators and the visual language of apps like Watch Duty.

    1h 8m

  4. AUG 19

    Forecasting the Economic Consequences of Disasters | Phil Cunningham

    First Street's Director of Wildfire Modeling, Phil Cunningham, explains the complex science behind creating property-level wildfire risk scores for the entire country. A meteorologist by training, he details his journey from studying the physics of fire whirls with supercomputers to running millions of statistical fire simulations to help homeowners, insurers, and lenders understand their true risk, both today and 30 years in the future. In this episode, you'll learn about: First Street's Mission: How they model climate risk for the financial industry and consumers. The Science of Risk Modeling: The process of simulating tens of millions of hypothetical fires to calculate burn probability and intensity. From Supercomputers to Statistics: The difference between complex physics models and the faster models needed for risk assessment. Your Zillow Fire Score: An inside look at the data that powers the risk ratings on major real estate sites. Climate Migration: How data is revealing the trend of people moving away from high-risk areas. The Threat of Pyroterrorism: A sobering discussion on how risk models can highlight vulnerabilities to intentional fires. The Power of Personal Responsibility: Why, despite all the high-tech modeling, simple actions like clearing brush are still the most effective form of mitigation.

    58 min

  5. AUG 13

    Forging the Next Generation of Female Firefighters | Krystal Caissie

    Third-generation volunteer firefighter Krystal Caissie shares her passion for Camp Molly, a groundbreaking program in Canada that empowers and trains teenage girls for a future in the fire service. Discover how this hands-on camp is building confidence, breaking down barriers for women in a male-dominated field, and inspiring the next generation of first responders. In this episode, you'll learn about: What is Camp Molly? An inside look at the four-day camp that's changing young women's lives. Hands-On Training: From forcible entry to raising ladders, how the camp simulates real-world firefighter evolutions. A Family Legacy: Krystal's story as the first woman in a three-generation firefighting family. Determination Over Strength: Why persistence and a refusal to give up are the most important traits for a firefighter. The New Reality of Canadian Wildfires: A firsthand account of living surrounded by smoke and the need for preparedness. Inspiring the Next Generation: How programs like Camp Molly are a critical solution to the firefighter recruitment crisis. A New Passion: How instructing at Camp Molly has become a driving force in Krystal's own career.

    36 min

  6. AUG 12

    Ancient Greeks Named Fire; Modern Greek Scientists are Redefining It | Theodore Giannaros

    Leading fire meteorologist Theodore Giannaros explains the terrifying new reality of extreme wildfires that couple with the atmosphere to create their own weather, defying traditional prediction models. Discover the "missing piece" in our understanding—3D meteorology—and learn why fires are no longer going to sleep at night, how remote sensing tools like radar and lidar are essential for research, and why scientists and firefighters must work together to "reverse engineer" effective solutions. In this episode, you'll learn about: Fire-Atmosphere Coupling: The science behind extreme fires that generate their own wind, vortices, and weather. The 3D Atmosphere: Why surface weather is no longer enough to predict the behavior of today's megafires. The Fires That Don't Sleep: How climate change is eroding the crucial nighttime window for firefighting. The Vicious Feedback Loop: How massive fires are accelerating climate change, which in turn creates more fire. Remote Sensing the Blaze: Using tools like mobile radar and lidar to safely study extreme fire behavior. Reverse Engineering from the Decision: A new philosophy for developing scientific tools that are truly useful to practitioners on the ground. Hiding the Complexity: The importance of making complex science simple to use without hiding the uncertainty. Integrity & Passion: The two most important values for the next generation of scientists.

    47 min

  7. AUG 7

    A Wildfire Solution Born from a Single Match | The Wayne Darnell Story

    Inventor Wayne Darnell shares the incredible origin story of his wildfire suppression technology—an idea sparked by blowing out a single match that led him to mount a massive airboat fan on a vehicle to control fire with pure wind. Discover the science behind how high-velocity airflow can cool, disrupt, and suppress a flame front without a single drop of water, and learn about his journey from Los Alamos National Lab to self-funding a revolutionary prototype. In this episode, you'll learn about: The "Matchstick Moment": The simple observation that inspired a radical new approach to firefighting. The Science of Wind: How high-velocity air can bend fuel, cool flames, and disrupt combustion. From Idea to Prototype: The self-funded journey to build and patent the air-mover. Testing at Tall Timbers: The results from the first live-fire tests at the renowned research station. A Tool for Prescribed Burns: How the technology can be used to safely propagate and control beneficial fire. Protecting the Firefighter: Using the powerful airflow to create a safe working environment by pushing heat and smoke away from crews. Parallel Innovation: The fascinating coincidence of two inventors independently developing the same core concept using different technology (fans vs. jets).

    41 min

  8. AUG 6

    The Rise of the 'Recovering Suppressionist' | Annie Leverich

    Returning guest Annie Leverich of The Fire Networks shares insights from her recent prescribed fire training in Nebraska, diving deep into the cultural shifts happening within the fire community. Explore the concept of the "recovering suppressionist," the challenge of overcoming status quo bias, and why effective communication and storytelling are the most critical tools for bringing "good fire" back to the landscape. In this episode, you'll learn about: W-TREX in Nebraska: Lessons from a Women's Prescribed Fire Training Exchange on the fire-dependent Niobrara Valley Preserve. The "Recovering Suppressionist": Understanding the mindset shift from all-out suppression to embracing beneficial fire. Burner Bob vs. Smokey Bear: The emergence of new characters and campaigns to promote a more nuanced view of fire. The "Wicked Problem" of Fire: Why changing fire culture is a complex, tangled challenge. Indigenous Knowledge: The importance of respecting cultural burning practices and partnering with, not extracting from, Indigenous communities. Finding the Burn Window: The incredible precision and observation required to safely conduct a prescribed burn. The Power of Storytelling: How The Fire Networks blog is building a library of diverse voices to advance the fire conversation.

    56 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Explore the wildfire crisis with Steve Wolf, on The Fire Break. Steve brings you the most influential voices in fire science, innovation, politics, and community engagement, sharing the latest strategies for wildfire prevention, mitigation, and recovery. Expect engaging and humorous chats with experts working to steer us through this climate dilemma. New episodes every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

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