NEW YORK — Lucy Walker, an acclaimed filmmaker, faced challenges when she premiered her impactful documentary, “Bring Your Own Brigade,” at Sundance in 2021 amid the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Reflecting on that time, Walker expressed, “It was really hard. I understood why people hesitated to watch a film about wildfires while grappling with the pandemic; it felt overwhelming.”
However, the recent wildfires that have devastated areas in Los Angeles may have now opened audiences to the vital messages Walker conveyed in her film, which highlights the significant human toll of the disasters and raises essential questions for the future.
“This might be a moment where the reality becomes apparent,” Walker noted during a recent interview. She pointed out that more individuals are beginning to question the safety of living in Los Angeles, pondering what is driving these events and what actions can be taken. “The encouraging aspect is that there are strategies available, though they are quite challenging to implement,” she added.
In “Bring Your Own Brigade” (now available on Paramount+), Walker presents a gripping account of two major wildfires that struck California on the same day in 2018. The film features the Camp Fire, which ravaged northern California’s Paradise, and the Woolsey Fire which impacted Malibu, highlighting the contrasting experiences of these communities at opposite ends of the political and economic spectrum.
Walker immerses herself in the lives of first responders and local residents, depicting the chaos with real cellphone footage of residents fleeing through infernos, yelling for their lives. The documentary also features distressing 911 calls where people frantically request assistance as flames encroach on their properties.
Walker’s film communicates a multifaceted perspective on California’s inevitable wildfires. While climate change plays a critical role, she emphasizes that there are indeed actionable steps that can be taken to mitigate such disasters, focusing on the need to rethink how and where people live, which can require significant lifestyle and structural changes.
Confronting the issue of complacency, Walker remarks on the tendency to forget the frequency of wildfires during prolonged periods without them. “Complacency sets in when there hasn’t been a fire for some time, leading people to feel like it might not happen again,” she commented.
Even Walker herself experienced this complacency after moving to Los Angeles from the UK, residing in an area that felt safer. But the recent catastrophic events served as a stark reminder of the potential risks. “It only takes one incident to shake that sense of security,” she lamented.
Her interest in documenting these facing fires stemmed from her own questions about safety in her new home. Walker found herself questioning why such devastating incidents were occurring and reflecting on the public reactions to fire emergencies.
Throughout her film, she came to admire the bravery of firefighters, noting their palpable frustration when they wish they could do more. Despite the anger from residents towards first responders depicted in her film, Walker believes their heroism shines through the challenges they face, particularly during community meetings where crucial safety measures are repeatedly rejected.
An impactful scene from “Bring Your Own Brigade” witnesses firefighters emotionally pleading for safety improvements at a town hall meeting in Paradise, where they encountered resistance from residents over even simple preventive measures. “It was shocking to see how safety concerns were overlooked in favor of individual preferences,” she stated, highlighting the urgent need for a cultural shift in these communities.
Walker acknowledged that she wasn’t the only filmmaker to tackle the aftermath of the Paradise fire, mentioning Ron Howard’s “Rebuilding Paradise.” While both films cover similar events, Walker’s documentary produces a different set of conclusions.
“Residents are incredibly resilient, but we must reassess our rebuilding strategies. The reality is that these fires will continue to occur, and they are worsening with climate change,” she contends.
This reassessment requires difficult decisions regarding where communities should exist in fire-prone regions. “Many people are moving into wildland urban interface areas, which are unfortunately among the most vulnerable to fires,” she explained, noting that while some of these areas are costly, others are not.
As insurance companies begin to recognize the unsustainable nature of building in these zones, the conversation about living choices is increasingly relevant. Walker emphasizes that it’s not only about location but also about the design of homes themselves. “What constitutes a fire-hardened home?” she asks, recognizing that construction materials and design can significantly influence fire resilience.
Although it’s too early to draw concrete conclusions, Walker senses a shift in perspective among those who have faced the ravages of wildfires. “People are now asking not just, ‘When can we rebuild?’ but rather, ‘How do we prevent this from happening again?'” she shared, pointing to a growing awareness around fire safety and prevention that may reshape future development.