In this podcast interview, Steve Lamb, chairman of the Institute for Sound Public Policy, discusses losing his home in the devastating Altadena fires that displaced 20,000 residents (42% of the town's population). Lamb reveals multiple systemic failures that contributed to the disaster: 25 years without preventative prescribed burns due to air quality regulations; Edison's negligent maintenance of power equipment (including abandoned towers with 28 safety citations); and fire department personnel who reportedly stood down rather than fighting structure fires. The aftermath compounds the tragedy as rebuilding efforts face restrictive regulations requiring expensive updates like mandatory solar panels and energy code compliance that make reconstruction financially impossible for many residents. Lamb suggests these policies align with long-standing county goals to densify Altadena against residents' wishes, effectively destroying the town's unique semi-rural character and community.
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