What happens when a coastal paradise gets redrawn as wildfire territory? Santa Monica Fire Marshal Joe Cavin reveals how wildfire rezoning, emergency evacuations, and fire-hardened building codes are transforming one of California’s most iconic cities.

Cavin discusses the aftermath of the Palisades Fire, the scramble to relocate five displaced schools, and the controversial rollout of the Fire Hazard Severity Zones—which now include parts of Santa Monica for the first time ever. From one-way street evacuations and red flag warnings to insurance chaos, looting fears, and single stairwell construction debates, this episode uncovers the tough calls and fast pivots behind urban fire protection.

Whether you're a city official, a firefighter, or a homeowner facing rising fire risk, Joe’s ground-level insights and straight talk will leave you thinking differently about what it takes to keep a city standing when the ember storm hits.

Discover how AI and satellites are transforming wildfire detection with OroraTech CEO Thomas Grübler. Grübler talks about OroraTech’s global satellite constellation, real-time fire mapping, and predictive modeling that’s helping fire agencies around the world act faster and smarter. From launching 10 satellites to mapping fires the size of a car, Grübler shares how this tech is already saving lives—and what’s next for their U.S. expansion. Tune in for a fascinating look at how space, sensors, and strategy are changing the fight against fire.

How do wildfires ignite buildings? Fire engineer Dr. Eleni Asimakopoulou reveals how structure design, facade materials, and wind patterns turn a wildfire into an urban disaster. In this global edition of The Fire Break, she joins Steve Wolf to discuss how her research uses fire dynamics simulations, AI modeling, and lab experiments to understand flame spread—and how the next generation of engineers might stop it. If you’ve ever wondered why some homes burn and others survive, this episode breaks it down.