Red Flag in Santa Monica | Joe Cavin on Evacuation, Insurance & Code Fights

What happens when a coastal paradise gets redrawn as wildfire territory? Santa Monica Fire Marshal Joe Cavin reveals how wildfire rezoning, emergency evacuations, and fire-hardened building codes are transforming one of California’s most iconic cities.

Cavin discusses the aftermath of the Palisades Fire, the scramble to relocate five displaced schools, and the controversial rollout of the Fire Hazard Severity Zones—which now include parts of Santa Monica for the first time ever. From one-way street evacuations and red flag warnings to insurance chaos, looting fears, and single stairwell construction debates, this episode uncovers the tough calls and fast pivots behind urban fire protection.

Whether you're a city official, a firefighter, or a homeowner facing rising fire risk, Joe’s ground-level insights and straight talk will leave you thinking differently about what it takes to keep a city standing when the ember storm hits.