The Palisades and Eaton Fires in 2025 had tremendous impacts. Together, they killed at least 28 people, destroyed more than 16,000 structures, and devastated ecosystems. The fires displaced thousands of households, highlighting one of the ongoing effects of climate change on the housing market. They raised questions about fire insurance policies that have failed to protect both humans, their built and natural environments, while allowing others to profit. The fires and their aftermath underscore institutional, ecological, social, and political issues that occur in Wildlife-Urban Interface zones (WUI).

This class aims to deepen our understanding of the history, political economy, and design— structural, landscape, and infrastructure— for urbanization in geographically risky areas. Ultimately, the goal is to explore how to better coexist with fire and support bottom-up recovery planning. The course covers Traditional Ecological Knowledge, impact mitigation and recovery design, disaster capitalism, and racialized and class based disparities exacerbated by the fires. Through discussion, we hope to balance criticism with optimism, and similarly grieve while offering hope and alternative imaginings for city planning and land use; homes lost were not just assets, but memory-landscapes with important cultural value. At the same time, losing a home implies economic instability. Will the post-fire landscape continue to reflect a city of economic injustice and impede the progress of POC generational wealth? Weekly guest lectures and meaningful discussions will help answer these questions to mitigate further housing loss, discrimination, and environmental degradation. The final project will be a collaborative journal featuring personal reflections, research, design models, and data mapping.