Wildfires are no longer a seasonal threat—they’re a year-round reality in California.

In this episode of Unseen Impact, we sit down with Cal Fire Captain Robert Johnson to break down what most people don’t understand about modern wildfires: how fast they move, how embers can travel miles ahead of the flames, and why defensible space and home hardening can mean the difference between losing your home—or saving it.

We also discuss:
Why California’s fire season never really ends


How firefighters predict fire behavior using weather and fuel data


What homeowners can do right now to reduce wildfire risk


Evacuation warnings vs. evacuation orders (and why timing matters)


The simple mistakes that cause homes to ignite hours after a fire passes



This conversation connects historical wildfire tragedies, like the Mann Gulch Fire, to the modern tools, technology, and preparation strategies used today—and what residents can learn from them.

Whether you live in a high-fire-risk area or just want to understand how wildfires impact real people, this episode offers critical insight that could save lives.

Listen on all podcast platforms
Rate, review, and subscribe for more conversations on the unseen impacts of law, safety, and public policy.

Resources:

https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents

https://web.pulsepoint.org/

https://protect.genasys.com/search

https://www.alertsandiego.org/

Some of the notable moments from this episode are: 

00:00 – A Wildfire That Changed Everything

01:50 – Why This Story Still Matters

03:05 – Meet a Cal Fire Captain

09:51 – Fire Season Is Now Year-Round

14:26 – What Makes Fires Explode

18:11 – The #1 Way to Protect Your Home

22:56 – How Homes Burn Without Flames Nearby

30:24 – Why Firefighters Can’t Save Every House

33:14 – Evacuations: What Most People Get Wrong

36:16 – The App That Could Save Your Life

39:41 – Inside Fire Command Decisions

50:13 – Why Homes Ignite Hours Later

52:56 – Home Hardening That Actually Works

56:52 – Final Fire Safety Takeaways

 

#CaliforniaWildfires #CalFire #WildfireSafety #FireSeason #FirePrevention #DefensibleSpace #HomeHardening #EmergencyPreparedness #EvacuationPlanning #PublicSafety #UnseenImpact

Wildfires are no longer a seasonal threat&mdash;they&rsquo;re a year-round reality in California.
In this episode of Unseen Impact, we sit down with Cal Fire Captain Robert Johnson to break down what most people don&rsquo;t understand about modern wildfires: how fast they move, how embers can travel miles ahead of the flames, and why defensible space and home hardening can mean the difference between losing your home&mdash;or saving it.
We also discuss:
<ul>
<li>Why California&rsquo;s fire season never really ends </li>
<li>How firefighters predict fire behavior using weather and fuel data </li>
<li>What homeowners can do right now to reduce wildfire risk </li>
<li>Evacuation warnings vs. evacuation orders (and why timing matters) </li>
<li>The simple mistakes that cause homes to ignite hours after a fire passes </li>
</ul>
This conversation connects historical wildfire tragedies, like the Mann Gulch Fire, to the modern tools, technology, and preparation strategies used today&mdash;and what residents can learn from them.
Whether you live in a high-fire-risk area or just want to understand how wildfires impact real people, this episode offers critical insight that could save lives.
Listen on all podcast platforms Rate, review, and subscribe for more conversations on the unseen impacts of law, safety, and public policy.
Resources:
<a href="https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents">https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents</a>
<a href="https://web.pulsepoint.org/">https://web.pulsepoint.org/</a>
<a href="https://protect.genasys.com/search">https://protect.genasys.com/search</a>
<a href="https://www.alertsandiego.org/">https://www.alertsandiego.org/</a>
Some of the notable moments from this episode are:&nbsp;
00:00 &ndash; A Wildfire That Changed Everything
01:50 &ndash; Why This Story Still Matters
03:05 &ndash; Meet a Cal Fire Captain
09:51 &ndash; Fire Season Is Now Year-Round
14:26 &ndash; What Makes Fires Explode
18:11 &ndash; The #1 Way to Protect Your Home
22:56 &ndash; How Homes Burn Without Flames Nearby
30:24 &ndash; Why Firefighters Can&rsquo;t Save Every House
33:14 &ndash; Evacuations: What Most People Get Wrong
36:16 &ndash; The App That Could Save Your Life
39:41 &ndash; Inside Fire Command Decisions
50:13 &ndash; Why Homes Ignite Hours Later
52:56 &ndash; Home Hardening That Actually Works
56:52 &ndash; Final Fire Safety Takeaways
&nbsp;
#CaliforniaWildfires #CalFire #WildfireSafety #FireSeason #FirePrevention #DefensibleSpace #HomeHardening #EmergencyPreparedness #EvacuationPlanning #PublicSafety #UnseenImpact

Rory Pendergast, Lead Attorney at Rory Law, discusses the unseen impact and ripple effects on victims of various injuries in "The Unseen Impact"  

Unseen Impact with Rory Pendergast explores the ripple effects of personal injury cases, shedding light on the hidden ways accidents, negligence, and injustice shape lives and explores the economic, physical, and emotional damages endured.

Each episode features mental health, physical injury, and industry professionals to examine the widespread effects of various injuries on individuals, families, and communities. 

Rory Pendergast, a California-based attorney originally from Montana, hosts a show where he discusses the unseen impact and ripple effects on victims of various injuries. He advocates in court on behalf of victims of revenge pornography (non-consensual pornography), physical and mental injury, and property destruction.

<a href="https://rorylaw.com/">Rory Pendergast</a>, Lead Attorney at Rory Law, discusses the unseen impact and ripple effects on victims of various injuries in "The Unseen Impact"&nbsp;&nbsp;
Unseen Impact with Rory Pendergast explores the ripple effects of personal injury cases, shedding light on the hidden ways accidents, negligence, and injustice shape lives and explores the economic, physical, and emotional damages endured.
Each episode features mental health, physical injury, and industry professionals to examine the widespread effects of various injuries on individuals, families, and communities.&nbsp;
Rory Pendergast, a California-based attorney originally from Montana, hosts a show where he discusses the unseen impact and ripple effects on victims of various injuries. He advocates in court on behalf of victims of revenge pornography (non-consensual pornography), physical and mental injury, and property destruction.

Unseen Impact 

Unseen Impact is a podcast that looks beyond legal headlines to explore how personal injury truly affects people’s lives. Hosted by Rory Pendergast—a legal marketing strategist with over a decade of experience in the justice space—the show examines the real-world consequences of accidents, negligence, and systemic failures. Each episode features conversations with professionals in mental health, physical rehabilitation, and law—as well as those with lived experience—to shed light on the emotional, physical, and financial aftermath of personal injury. Rory brings a thoughtful, trauma-informed lens to each interview, creating space for guests to share insights that help educate, humanize, and advocate.

Unseen Impact is a podcast that looks beyond legal headlines to explore how personal injury truly affects people&rsquo;s lives. Hosted by Rory Pendergast&mdash;a legal marketing strategist with over a decade of experience in the justice space&mdash;the show examines the real-world consequences of accidents, negligence, and systemic failures. Each episode features conversations with professionals in mental health, physical rehabilitation, and law&mdash;as well as those with lived experience&mdash;to shed light on the emotional, physical, and financial aftermath of personal injury. Rory brings a thoughtful, trauma-informed lens to each interview, creating space for guests to share insights that help educate, humanize, and advocate.