This Is Wildfire: How to Protect Yourself, Your Home, and Your Community in the Age of Heat

by Nick Mott, Justin Angle

A practical guide for living with wildfire, including essential history and science, actions you can take to protect your home, and guiding principles for life in an increasingly fiery future.

Wildfires are getting more destructive than ever before. Flames in forests are scorching about twice as many trees as they did two decades ago, and nearly 100,000 homes, barns, and other structures have been incinerated. “Fire seasons” are now fire years. Tens of millions of people live in areas vulnerable to fire, and more keep moving in. Driven in part by climate change, the areas burned and prevalence of smoke in the skies is expected to skyrocket in the decades to come.

At the same time that wildfires leave swathes of the country in ash, they also renew. Wildfire is crucial for ecosystems to function and flourish. We're putting out many of the fires our landscape needs, and the ones that escape our control are devastating for forests and communities. It's clear what we're doing isn't working. Wildfire is inevitable, and we need to learn to live with it.

The first of its kind, This Is Wildfire is required reading for our new reality. It offers everything you need to know about fire in one useful reflects on the history of humanity's connection to flames; analyzes how our society arrived at this perilous moment; and recounts stories of those fighting fire and trying to change our relationship with it. It also offers practical choosing your insurance and making your home resilient to burns; packing an emergency go-bag; rebuilding after a fire; and so much more.

Genres: Nonfiction, Climate Change, Science, Nature

272 pages, Hardcover

Published August 29, 2023

Reviews

[Mai H.]

Non-fiction November TBR

📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury Publishing

[Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really unique and interesting read, that I’m still thinking about! It’s a journey through how fire has come to be as destructive as it is to humans on the landscape today, although at our own fault. However this destruction is viewed as necessary in certain ecosystems due to its ecological role! By giving a perfect amount of precursor on wildfire in the US, the authors catch the reader up on why we see the fires to the scale they are at today and what to expect as the climate and ecosystems change! The inspiring stories from individuals in industry, politics, figures in US history and some small communities gave notable perspectives on various topics related to fire, giving this book a personal touch with good storytelling. The story of Smokey the Bear’s origins stood out! With all this, the book drives home the importance of the need for resilient landscapes of both urban communities and forests in our future. With all the valuable information in this book, it acts as a source of information on fire ecology, government policy, industry strategies, community stories of inspiration, and some take home tips for your house and lifestyle in an age of wildfires and climate change. The authors look to educate readers on why fire, although incredibly destructive, is necessary to many ecosystems and how we can act to lessen severity of wildfire impacts on urban communities without total suppression from wild ecosystems. As a Canadian living on the West Coast, much of this fits home!

[Shanereads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is Wildfire was a great book. I had no idea all of the factors involved in wildfires. On the heels of the Maui fires this book could not be coming at an even better time.

This book is divided into four very helpful sections including burning, fighting, managing and adapting. What sat with me the most, having read this book, were the precautions that I can take to prevent fire in my own home. I saw my grandparents house burn down in an electric fire, and I can see how this book could have helped to prevent the fire spread that they incurred. After having read this book my family will be putting together the suggested go bag for wildfires and natural disasters so that we can be better prepared.

Anyone interested in survival, outdoors, or environmental change books will love to read this one!

This review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Ula Tardigrade · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are new to the subject of wildfires, not looking for a captivating narrative non-fiction (like Fire Weather: A True Story from a Hotter World) or a scientific, technical study (like Running Out of Time: Wildfires and Our Imperiled Forests), but just want to get up to speed and understand what the heck is going on - and especially if you live in a fire-prone area - this book is a perfect choice. Written in very accessible language, it pulls together all the information on the causes of the current situation and gives advice on what you can do about it. It offers a crash course in the history of fire suppression in the US, but also explains why forest management is an essential tool in making our wildlands more resilient, and why we should learn from indigenous peoples. Finally, it offers a wealth of solutions and practical tips that can help keep you and your communities safe.

Thanks to the publisher, Bloomsbury USA, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

[Rob Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mott is concise and informative, and writes about fire––past, present, and future––in ways that are accessible to those just learning about how fire functions on a landscape as well as those who are seasoned wildfire professionals. Not only does this book teach us about how we got to such a combustible present, but it also serves as useful roadmap to reshape the very way we think about fires in the future. As more and more communities are forced to reckon with fire, this book's relevancy continues to reveal itself with time.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Better than I was expecting after listening to an interview with the authors. They cover a very wide range of important information about wildfire. I definitely learned a few things and made some notes for future reference. Really interesting accounting of the history of fire management here in the US. Fortunately there have been some good changes in recent years.

[Meg · Rating 3 out of 5]

I learned a bit about prescribed burns and other techniques for reducing wildfire severity, and some of the political challenges that have limited their use. There was also a section of practical tips for homeowners which was more theoretical for me since I don’t live in a wildfire risk area.

[Lucy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Wildfire happens. It doesn’t have to be devastating. Individual homeowners can take steps to reduce the risks facing their own homes. People can work together to harden their communities. Government agencies at various levels, and insurance companies can all have an impact.

[Miranda Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolute must read; beyond those who live in WUI, but everyone - thank you Justin and Nick for writing this.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the overview and primer we need for this moment.