When Wildfire Comes
Claim This Podcastby Christopher Potter, PhD
Podcast Overview
<p>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.</p> <p><span>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.</span></p>
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
10/20/2025
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Recent Episodes
July 2, 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/
June 3, 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
May 2, 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
14 total episodes available
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Frequently asked questions
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- What is When Wildfire Comes?
<p>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.</p> <p><span>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.</span></p> - How often does this podcast release new episodes?
This podcast updates daily.
- Where can I listen to this podcast?
This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
- Does this podcast accept guests?
Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.
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