The Indicator NPR hide caption
DIY Firefighting
The Indicator NPR hide caption
It used to be, when there was a big wildfire out West, you relied on professional firefighters to save your property. And if they couldn't, hopefully you had insurance that would help you rebuild.
But several things are changing that: the fires we're seeing now are getting so frequent and fearsome that firefighters are completely outmatched. They're spread thin, which means they can't get to every fire. There are private firefighting companies, but they're small and expensive. As for insurance? Again, it's expensive, often prohibitively so, and not everyone is eligible for coverage.
As a result, some homeowners and farmers are looking for ways to compensate, by fighting fires themselves. The market is responding, and you can get a peek at it on Craigslist.
Music by Drop Electric. Find us: Twitter / Facebook / Newsletter.
Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts, PocketCasts and NPR One.