Loss is not inevitable: A conversation with emergency management executive Mike Byrne

The devastating wildfire in Maui underscores the challenges our society continues to face with increased drought conditions and extreme weather. According to researchers at the University of Colorado-Boulder, fire events in the United States are up to four times the size, three-times more frequent and far more widespread than they were in the previous two decades.

The National Interagency Fire Center reported at the end of August that over 39,000 wildfires had burned nearly 2 million acres this year. At that time, about 20,000 wildland firefighters and support personnel were assigned to incidents across the United States.

These conditions call for a heightened level of preparedness that many communities might not be able to afford or might have even considered. As fires have become more frequent and extreme, how can communities be better prepared and have the tools they need to be resilient? Diving into these challenges, we sat down with Deloitte & Touche LLP Specialist Executive Michael Byrne , who advises government leaders on emergency management, preparedness and crisis response. Mike has more than 40 years of service as a firefighter and federal emergency manager during some of our country’s worst disasters, including hurricanes Katrina, Sandy and Maria, and the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

How has climate change impacted wildfire season?

Mike Byrne: For one, there is no “wildfire season” anymore. Climate and weather have shifted so dramatically that wildfires are happening throughout the year. This has changed the entire equation for emergency managers, who should think about fire danger in their year-long risk and resilience planning. The 2021 Marshall Fire in Colorado, for example, ignited in December and was finally extinguished by a heavy snow. Wildfires may still be worse in the summer months, but researchers we’ve been working with at the University of Colorado-Boulder have found that even the relief expected from cool, wet nights is going away.

So much has changed in the past 20 years, it’s also no longer true that wildfires are only a western states problem. As a result of a dry winter, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service got their first call this year in March and have been busy ever since. While California still has the highest number of houses threatened by fires, homes in Texas, Florida, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania, in that order, are also at highest risk.

Is our nation prepared for a sustained increase in wildfire? Are our firefighters?

Mike Byrne: There are some communities—usually ones that have already experienced a fire tragedy—that are taking steps to increase their resilience. But many might not be moving quickly enough on this issue.

 FEMA says that nearly 99 million people now live in what is called the “Wildland Urban Interface,” areas of our country where development transitions into unoccupied land—places like Paradise, California, or on the island of Maui. That’s an estimated 70,000 communities at risk of wildfire. And there are not enough professionally trained firefighters to go around. As communities work to recruit more people to fight fires, a priority also should be placed on how to prevent fires from igniting and spreading in the first place.

 This requires a major preparedness and prevention mindset shift—not just for fires, but for all extreme weather events. Firefighters are first responders, they rescue us from hurricanes and floods, tornadoes, earthquakes, winter storms, and other natural and man-made disasters. If you wonder about climate change, ask a firefighter. I’m sure they have an opinion.

As a former firefighter yourself, what goes through the minds of wildland firefighters before and during a runaway blaze or other disaster? How do these tragedies affect first responders long term?

Mike Byrne: Three of my uncles were firefighters, and I started at the New York City Fire Department when I was 23. Later, when I became an emergency management coordinator, I took that band of brothers and sisters with me in spirit. I still think of them every time I make a decision. From my experience, when firefighters get a call, their training kicks in, and they will do whatever it takes to prevent the loss of life.

Look, firefighters are some of the toughest people you’re ever going to meet. They will literally go into a burning building to save you. For the longest time, the culture of firefighting has been about that toughness in dealing with crisis and being able to “suck it up.” But firefighters are human like everyone else. The intensity and destructiveness of these fires over the last couple decades are taking a physical and emotional toll. As a community and a country, we owe it to these heroes to do whatever we can to reduce the number of times they are put in harm’s way. That’s why more is needed to better understand the risks to our communities and work to prevent them.

What are some effective methods for managing fire risk in a changing climate?

Mike Byrne: We can look at the causes and impacts of wildfire from all sides. Obviously, people and homes can be threatened by fire. But what is potentially causing wildfires? Economic circumstances may contribute to the problem and continued development in areas that are known to have high wildfire risk may escalate this issue.

More than 50 years ago, our nation recognized that flooding was an enormous natural disaster risk, and that led to the National Flood Insurance Program, new regulations for development, and updated building methods and materials. Similar approaches should be considered around fires.

Fire-resistant houses can be built today at a cost similar to traditional building methods. We can use data to better map vulnerable areas, so developers and communities can plan infrastructure that mitigates risk. Also remember that those who lived here before learned to live with fire. Native American tribes, for example, practiced cultural burning for thousands of years in which they set controlled burns to reduce wildfire fuel.

Finally, we all need to listen to Smokey Bear and stop doing things that spark flames, like tossing lit cigarettes, igniting fireworks in the middle of a dry summer, or ignoring burn bans. Last year, 87% of wildfires were caused by people.

You have led federal emergency response for some of our nation’s worst tragedies. How can communities and individuals better prepare for and respond to the increased risk of a climate-related disaster?

Mike Byrne: This year, as of Sept. 11, there were 23 confirmed weather and climate disasters exceeding $1 billion in losses, including the August 8 firestorm in Hawaii. Those events caused the deaths of 253 people. There’s seldom a worse feeling than being a first responder or public servant during a fatal disaster in your community. No amount of “would’ve, could’ve, should’ve” can bring back a life. That is why it is so important to use the data and tools available today to manage and lower risk for the next disaster that is just around the corner.

If you look at FEMA’s National Risk Index, you’ll see that no community in the United States is immune from the risk of natural disaster. Leaders should study their community’s risks, then conduct cost-benefit analyses to identify which infrastructure needs improvement and set a plan for how to prioritize investments.

As extreme weather becomes more frequent, outcomes—like who will be able to rebuild and recover—might be dictated by socioeconomic status. And regardless of a property owner’s ability to pay to rebuild, each of these climate risks also poses a threat to household resilience—from physical wellbeing to mental fortitude.

One of the projects I am most passionate about is the Climate Innovation Collaboratory, where Deloitte is supporting research that will help expand government access to climate science, data analytics, and applied research to help communities better prepare for and respond to climate-related threats. As emergency managers, we refuse to accept that suffering and economic losses are the inevitable consequences of disasters. Working together, we can take steps now to minimize these risks.  

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