Two Marine Corps veterans and Hoover Fellows, Dave Winnacker and Donnie Hasseltine, break down California’s wildfire crisis—not from a sensational angle, but with sharp insight on what’s really at stake. They reveal how outdated fire strategies, rising insurance costs, and inaction are creating a perfect storm that could implode the state’s housing market. Drawing from their Hoover fellowship capstone, they explain why the solution isn’t more tech—it’s micro-level action and community-wide coordination. From defense-in-depth analogies to pricing risk through insurance markets, this conversation will change how you think about climate risk, public policy, and collective responsibility.
Frontline Voices is part of the Veteran Fellowship Program at the Hoover Institution.
Applications to join the 2025 Cohort of the Veteran Fellow Program is now available until July 31, 2025. Click here to apply: https://www.hoover.org/veteran-fellowship-program?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=fv_vfp_2025
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