On Tuesday morning, January 7th, we drove through Malibu to West Los Angeles.. As we passed through the area, the Palisades Fire had erupted just twenty minutes earlier. The five days we spent in Los Angeles were deeply unsettling, as the devastating impact of the fires affected thousands of residents, and the ongoing fire danger loomed heavily over the city. We are profoundly grateful to the incredibly brave firefighters and all those working tirelessly on the front lines. Their courage is truly extraordinary.

This experience highlighted the urgent need for all of us to prioritize safer practices to protect our loved ones, homes, businesses, and communities. Hardening your home to help save it is critical. Engaging with programs like CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) to learn preparedness and response strategies is crucial. Additionally, technology such as WatchDuty.org and other fire-monitoring apps used in Los Angeles, along with excellent journalism, provide vital tools to keep residents informed.

However, I believe it’s time to go even further. We need to bring together the brightest minds—from Fleet Numerical Meteorology & Oceanography and the Naval Postgraduate School to Silicon Valley innovators, Lawrence Livermore Lab and beyond—to establish a Think Tank dedicated to developing advanced wildfire prevention and response strategies.

The current "boots on the ground" approach, while deeply heroic, is inherently risky and often too slow. We should be exploring the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) capable of deploying water and fire retardants, and robots, even in high winds. Satellite technology advancements could also play a significant role in quickly identifying arsonists and pinpointing fire origins. For fires sparked by lightning, perhaps a defense system similar to the "Iron Dome" could be designed to shield California’s fire-prone hillsides. AI can also detect fires that are unseen. Arsonists need to be identified by satellite photos if possible or other technology based on fire origins.

The devastation caused by wildfires demands not only our attention but also our innovation and collaboration.  

Together, we can create solutions to safeguard our communities and preserve the beautiful state we all deeply cherish.

Wendy Brickman

395 Del Monte Center, #250

Monterey, CA 93940