In our final episode sponsored by Protect Our Winters, we explored the economics of wildfire (both it’s suppression and it’s community and recreational impacts) with Jude Bayham, an environmental and resource economist at Colorado State University.

Jude told us about some of his upcoming research, which he’s hoping will utilize Strava data to determine where people continue to recreate in the aftermath of wildfires, in addition to lots of other cool stuff he has in the works. We also explored the proliferation of Lyme disease as a result of fire exclusion, a problem that is most pronounced in the Northeast, and how that’s inordinately impacting the outdoor community in certain regions.  

Learn more about Jude’s breadth of wildfire and economics research here. 

You can learn more our sponsor, Protect our Winters, and their Stoke the Vote campaign—which encourages the outdoor community to do their research, register to vote and make their voices heard ahead of this fall’s midterms. Learn more about the campaign and POW’s other work here. 

To support Life with Fire, follow us on Instagram and  Twitter; you can also support us/help pay the bills (and our host’s burgeoning addiction to iced lattes) by donating to our Patreon. 

Song featured in POW ad: The Times They Are A Changin’ by Goth Babe