When Wildfire Comes

Christopher Potter, PhD
  • 5.0 (1)
  • NATURAL SCIENCES

Hello, my name is Dr. Christopher Potter and I am a wildfire scientist with over 30 years of experience working for NASA, and with local communities impacted by wildland fires.  I have studied wildfire on the urban interface using satellite imagery and ground measurements for all of the most destructive fires in the western United States, and I myself live in a high-risk wildfire zone in northern California.  In this weekly podcast, titled "When Wildfire Comes", we will hear from a special guest about their close encounter with a major wildfire that occurred during the past several years.  This is not a breaking news report, but 30 minutes during which our guest recounts their emotions and their first-hand observations of a wildfire approaching and burning in their town or community, and the lessons to be learned from such a horrifying event. Note that the views and opinions expressed in this interview by the host are solely those of the host and do not necessarily reflect the official policy, position, or opinions of his employer. Content produced is for informational purposes only.

Episodes

  1. 2D AGO

    Episode 9 – Extreme Fire Weather with Dr. Daniel Swain

    Massive cumulonimbus clouds can form over wildfires in the western United States and are likely increasing with the intensity of the wildfires themselves.  Daniel Swain is a climate scientist at the University of California who focuses on the dynamics and impacts of extreme events, including floods, storms, and wildfires.  In this episode, Dr. Swain discusses the formation of firestorms and the climate science that explains them.

    56 min

  2. FEB 27

    Episode 8 - The Dixie Fire in 2021 with Chief Sean Norman

    The Dixie Fire was an enormous wildfire that burned almost 1 million acres in Butte, Plumas, Lassen, Shasta, and Tehama counties in Northern California.   The wildfire damaged or destroyed several rural communities in the Sierra Nevada mountains, including Greenville, CA.  This dynamic visualization (https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/4993) shows the spread of the Dixie Fire between July 14 and October 22, 2021, which enables listeners to follow along with Chief Norman, as he describes the fire’s nearly uncontrollable path of mass destruction.

    1h 7m

  3. FEB 6

    Episode 7 - Fire Weather and Climate Change with Matthew Mehle

    Fire weather refers to the specific atmospheric conditions, such as extremely low humidity and high winds, that make it easier for wildfires to ignite, spread rapidly, and become difficult to control. Matthew Mehle, Lead Meteorologist and Spotter Program Manager for the San Francisco Bay Area Weather Forecast Office talks in depth about increase in fire weather days across the western U.S. and about the winds that have driven wildland blazes into urban areas across California. This is "master class" on fire weather and climate change.

    44 min

  4. JAN 24

    Episode 6 - The Eaton Fire in 2025 with Kelly Etter

    On the one-year anniversary of the events of the 2025 wildfires in Los Angeles County, Eaton Fire survivor and Altadena home-owner Kelly Etter recounts a heartfelt story of loss and recovery. The Eaton Fire began on the evening of January 7, 2025 when powerful Santa Anna winds drove a small wildland blaze into the city of Altadena, ultimately killing 19 people and destroying more than 9,000 structures. This is an episode of community healing from such a devastating loss.

    54 min

  5. JAN 2

    Episode 5 - The Thomas Fire in 2017 with Andy Ortega

    The Thomas Fire started on December 4, 2017, burning 281,893 acres and destroying over 1000 structures, many in the coastal city of Ventura CA.  Andy Ortega, who served for 37 years with the Ventura County Fire Department, recounts the dramatic events of those days when this historic wildfire destroyed his home and many others in Ventura.

    41 min

  6. 12/01/2025

    Episode 4 - The Caldor Fire in 2021 with Captain Brain Newman

    The Caldor Fire started on  August 14, 2021, burning 221,835 acres and destroying 1,005 structures in the Eldorado National Forest in northern California. It was the second fire to ever burn to the crest of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, causing the evacuation of South Lake Tahoe.  Captain Brian Newman of CALFIRE recounts the events of this historic wildfire that could not be stopped.

    43 min

  7. 11/14/2025

    Episode 3 - The Tubbs Fire in 2017 with Captain Matt Tognozzi

    The Tubbs Fire in Sonoma and Napa Counties (CA) started on October 8, 2017 and destroyed 5,643 structures, half of which were homes in the city of Santa Rosa, all destroyed in one day. Capt. Matt Tognozzi tells the story of how this 36,810 acre wildland fire resulted in the deaths of 22 persons and changed perceptions of wildfire in the North Bay Area.

    42 min

  8. 11/06/2025

    Episode 2 - The Glass Fire 2020 with Captain Sean Jerry

    The Glass Fire in Sonoma and Napa Counties (CA) started on September 27, 2020 and destroyed 1,555 structures.  CALFIRE Capt Sean Jerry tells the story of how this 67,484 acre wildland fire burned into small towns and open spaces and was controlled with 23 days.

    40 min

  9. 10/20/2025

    Episode 1 - 1997 Los Gatos Wildfire

    In the later afternoon of Aug 8, 1997, I rushed home to Los Gatos, a small town in the Santa Cruz Mountains to the south of San Jose.  A  fire had broken out in the hills above town and that we were being asked to evacuate.  I raced home to see helicopters overhead with water tankers attacking flames in the shrublands less than a mile from our home.  The story continues in this inaugural episode of "When Wildfire Comes".

    10 min
  • 9 Episodes

About

Hello, my name is Dr. Christopher Potter and I am a wildfire scientist with over 30 years of experience working for NASA, and with local communities impacted by wildland fires.  I have studied wildfire on the urban interface using satellite imagery and ground measurements for all of the most destructive fires in the western United States, and I myself live in a high-risk wildfire zone in northern California.  In this weekly podcast, titled "When Wildfire Comes", we will hear from a special guest about their close encounter with a major wildfire that occurred during the past several years.  This is not a breaking news report, but 30 minutes during which our guest recounts their emotions and their first-hand observations of a wildfire approaching and burning in their town or community, and the lessons to be learned from such a horrifying event. Note that the views and opinions expressed in this interview by the host are solely those of the host and do not necessarily reflect the official policy, position, or opinions of his employer. Content produced is for informational purposes only.

Information

  • Creator
    Christopher Potter, PhD
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    9
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    When Wildfire Comes

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