Wildfires: How to Design a World that Doesn't Burn

Wildfires aren’t just getting bigger — they’re behaving differently. In this episode, Host Geoff Lawton, Eric, Ben and Sam are joined by special guest Matthew Trumm to unpack why modern “mega-fires” burn hotter, faster, and across vast areas and what land design has to do with it. From degraded ecosystems and fuel loads to wind, water, and soil, this conversation explores how human decisions have reshaped fire behavior. The discussion also looks at Indigenous cultural burning, landscape buffers, and permaculture design strategies that reduce fire risk, offering a grounded and practical lens on how we can design landscapes and communities, that don’t burn.

Watch the video episode here.

Key Takeaways:

00:11:50 – 00:16:30: Mega-fires aren’t normal wildfires. They’re driven by wind, heavy dry fuel loads, and degraded ecosystems, allowing fire to move into the canopy and accelerate rapidly.

00:13:40 – 00:15:40: When forests lose grazing, ground cover management, and soil health, excess fuel builds up — allowing fire to climb into the treetops and spread uncontrollably.

00:17:45 – 00:19:40: Open, simplified landscapes allow wind to accelerate. Well-designed buffer zones — trees, water, and earthworks — slow wind and reduce fire intensity.

00:16:30 – 00:18:20: Low-intensity, intentional fire has long been used by Indigenous cultures to reduce fuel loads, protect ecosystems, and prevent catastrophic burns.

00:35:55 – 00:36:45: Designs that work with natural systems require less energy and are more resilient. Forced systems rely on constant inputs — and tend to fail under stress.

00:38:10 – 00:41:30: Degraded landscapes spiral toward desertification and disaster. Regenerative design rebuilds soil, holds water, and restores ecological balance.

00:41:30 – 00:47:00: Start with water, restore soil, reduce fuel loads, and design buffers. Fire resilience is built long before fire season begins.