Episode 1: The History and Evolution of the Butte County Fire Safe Council

In the premiere episode of Living With Wildfire: Voices from Butte County, host Calli-Jane West sits down with long-time board member and former Paradise Fire Chief Jim Broshears to explore the origins of the Butte County Fire Safe Council and the county’s wildfire history. From the lessons of the 1991 Oakland Hills Fire to the sweeping changes after the 2018 Camp Fire, they trace how community-led wildfire preparedness has evolved—from early fuel breaks to today’s landscape-level projects, prescribed burning, and Firewise communities. Together, they discuss how a deep connection to the land, proactive home hardening, and neighbor-to-neighbor collaboration are shaping a safer, more resilient Butte County.