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.
Episode 17 - The 2020 Creek Fire with Chief Dustin Hail, Fresno Kings Unit
The 2020 Creek Fire in central California's Sierra National Forest generated an historic pyrocumulonimbus storm cloud and triggered the largest helicopter rescue in National Guard history, all while burning through a heavy forested landscape devastated by massive tree mortality from recent insect kills. This wildfire spread explosively through mountain communities like Big Creek, Shaver Lake, and Huntington Lake, destroying over 850 structures. Chief Dustin Hail describes the lessons learned from this unique firestorm event. Views of the wildfire impacts can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2kndbAGURE
1 Sept 2026
Episode 16 - The Calf Canyon/Hermits Peak Fire in 2022 with Theresa Davis
The 2022 Calf Canyon/Hermits Peak Fire stands as the largest and most destructive wildfire in the history of New Mexico. The fire burned 341,470 acres between early April and late June in the southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains when the U.S. Forest Service lost control of a prescribed burn. The Calf Canyon Fire began on April 9 when an improperly extinguished Forest Service pile burn from January rekindled. Theresa Davis, then a reporter for the Albuquerque Journal, gives a behind-the-scenes account of the impact of this accidental conflagration that destroyed 900 structures and countless livelihoods of ranchers in New Mexico. Aerial views of the wildfire can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gy05VFm3KG0
3 Aug 2026
Episode 15 – California’s First Gigafire: 2020 August Complex Fire
This episode is in-depth analysis of the August Complex Fire, which was the most massive fire incident that started in August 2020 during the unprecedented lightning wildfire season. It has officially become the largest wildfire in California's modern history and is frequently described in slang as the state's first "gigafire" because it burned over one million acres of land, an area larger than the state of Rhode Island. The fire burned through timberlands in three national forests – the Mendocino, Shasta-Trinity, and Six Rivers, until it was contained in early November 2020. Over 930 rural community structures were destroyed and one firefighter was killed in the line of duty. Listeners should go to the Facebook page album at https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122141579763079001&type=3 to follow along with the presentation slides. Recorded comments from firefighters who were on the ground in 2020 trying to control the August Complex fires can be heard at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WI9ikgLJ2II
2 Jul 2026
Episode 14 - The CZU Complex Fire in 2020 with Chief Nate Armstrong
In the summer of 2020, the CZU Complex Fires destroyed 80,000 acres of coastal old-growth redwood forest ecosystems of central CA. The wildfires started on August 16, 2020 when 11,000 bolts of dry lightning were detected as ground strikes in San Mateo and Santa Cruz Counties, igniting hundreds of fires in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Follow along with CALFIRE Chief for Santa Cruz County Nate Armstrong as he describes the fire’s nearly uncontrollable swath of destruction in the numerous steep drainages in Big Basin Redwoods State Park and how the town of Boulder Creek was threatened. A full scientific study of the CZU Fire severity can be found at https://journal.wildlife.ca.gov/2023/04/12/impacts-of-the-czu-lightning-complex-fire-of-august-2020-on-the-forests-of-big-basin-redwoods-state-park/
3 Jun 2026
Episode 13 - The Park Fire in 2024 with Chief Jeremey Pierce
The Park Fire is the largest most recent mega-fire in Northern California. This wildfire damaged several rural communities including burning most structures in the town of Cohasset, CA. Follow along with Chief Pierce as he describes the fire’s nearly uncontrollable path of destruction in the numerous steep drainages in Butte County and how the town of Paradise was again threatened after being completely destroyed by the Camp Fire of 2018. Daily progression of the Park Fire can be seen at https://hiform.org/projects/2024-park-fire-lassen-national-forest-ca
2 May 2026
Episode 12 - The Bear Fire in 2020 with Chief John Messina
The Bear Fire started in the Plumas National Forest of Butte County CA and became the North Complex Fire in 2020, killing sixteen people and destroying thousands of homes in the towns of Berry Creek and Feather Falls. As the Bear Fire exploded in unprecedented size (burning 220,000 acres in one day) and intensity overnight on September 9, 2020, its plume of smoke eventually covered the entire Sacramento Valley and the San Francisco Bay Area, leading to the event called the "Orange Skies Day" in the Bay Area. Follow along with Chief Messina as he describes 18 hours of the most intensive wildfire to burn in the recent history of the western US. Views of the Bear Fire can be viewed at https://gis.data.cnra.ca.gov/maps/CALFIRE-Forestry::north-complex-structure-status-map/ and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GivCgdNzV2c
8 Apr 2026
Episode 11 – The Palisades Fire in 2025 with Richard Thompson, NOAA
The Palisades Fire, which ignited on January 7, 2025, was a catastrophic wildfire in Los Angeles County driven by historically powerful Santa Ana winds. NOAA incident meteorologist Richard Thompson describes how the humidity levels during this extreme wind event were driven down to critical levels and cast burning embers into the city of Pacific Palisades to ultimately burn nearly 7000 structures. Listeners can see the progression of the fire into the urban zones of Pacific Palisades by going to the map found at https://the-lookout.org/2025/01/21/progression-of-the-palisades-fire/
25 Mar 2026
Episode 10 - The Eaton Fire and Devastation of Altadena in 2025
Podcast host Christopher Potter presents a new analysis of the destruction of thousands of homes in Altadena, CA during the Eaton Fire of January 2025. Mapping shows how structure density, urban biomass fuels, and wind-driven fire behavior contributed to the intensity of this devastating urban incident. The findings are vital for improving future wildfire risk assessments and informing post-fire recovery and rebuilding strategies in densely populated environments. Listeners should go to https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.122127036741079001&type=3 to follow along with the presentation slides.
13 Mar 2026
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.
27 Feb 2026
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.
6 Feb 2026
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.
24 Jan 2026
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.
2 Jan 2026
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.
1 Dec 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.
14 Nov 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.
6 Nov 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.
20 Oct 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".
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