Sebastopol Documentary Film Festival Official Selection

Built to Burn

Can we ready ourselves to manage wildfire, or will we continue to scramble in disbelief?

Either way, the fires are coming.

A Documentary by Courtney D. Campbell

“A vivid, informed survey of the western fire scene - a powerful introduction to a problem that isn’t going away.”

— Stephen Pyne, Emeritus Professor, Arizona State University

“Built to Burn avoids sensationalism and simplistic answers to deliver a thoughtful and thorough examination of the West’s fire problem. A must see for anyone struggling to envision a better future for fire-prone areas.”

— Chris Adlam - Oregon State University

“Built to Burn is a compelling look at wildfire today in the American West, shedding light on the roots of the problem, why it’s getting worse, and what can be done to make our communities fire safe.”

— Austin Troy, PhD, Chair & Professor, Dept. of Urban & Regional Planning, University of Colorado Denver

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Across the west, wildfires have never been more destructive. Oregon’s record-breaking 2020 wildfire season killed at least 11 people, destroyed more than 5,000 homes and businesses, and burned over 1 million acres of land. Today’s fires are vivid and deadly evidence of the new wildfire realities that can no longer be ignored. Built to Burn explores a pattern of growing fire risk emerging from a confluence of factors – decades of aggressive fire suppression, increasing development in fire-prone areas, and a longer, drier wildfire season due to climate change. Even so, these wildfires can be fires of choice or of chance. We can have good fires or bad fires. Can we ready ourselves to truly manage fire, or will we continue the status quo and scramble in disbelief? Either way, the fires are coming.