Understanding Wildfire Risks and Home Protection with Michael Steinberg

Host Michael Fanning, Windermere Real Estate

Michael Steinberg, Pyrogeographer and wildfire expert

In this informative episode, Michael Fanning interviews Michael Steinberg, a pyrogeographer who specializes in studying and documenting wildfires. They discuss the increasing wildfire risks across the West Coast, how climate change is affecting fire patterns, and practical steps homeowners and communities can take to protect themselves.

• Changing Climate Patterns: How dry summers followed by offshore wind events create perfect conditions for devastating wildfires, even in regions traditionally considered low-risk.

• Areas with Highest Fire Risk: Foothill regions and areas in the wildland-urban interface (where human development meets wildland) face increasing risk.

• Community-Level Fire Protection:

  • The importance of neighbors working together to create defensible space
  • How collective action can reduce ignition chances by 90% or more

• Home Assessment Factors for Fire Safety:

  • Zone zero (0-5 feet from home) vegetation management
  • Fire-hardened features like closed gutter systems
  • Avoiding high-risk vegetation like palm trees and ornamental pompous grass

• Emergency Preparedness:

  • Creating a "go bag" with essential documents, medication, and valuables
  • The importance of evacuation planning and awareness of evacuation routes
  • Understanding how traffic congestion during evacuations can become deadly

• Professional Assessments:

  • Cal Fire and other agencies offer free home assessments for wildfire risk in California

Real estate agents have the power to educate clients about wildfire risks when showing homes and provide valuable resources for fire safety and preparedness.

• Michael Steinberg: NorCalStormChasing@gmail.com
• Michael Fanning: fanning@winder.com

Watch for new Windermere classes on wildfire behavior, defensive space, and fire hardening taught by Michael Steinberg.