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SoCal Update

A Fruit That Can Slow Wildfires | Feb. 24

On the Feb. 24 episode of SoCal Update, a professor proposes a green solution to protect homes from California’s worsening wildfires. KPCC Science Reporter Jacob Margolis explains how banana plants can help.

Barath Raghavan, a fruit enthusiast and professor of engineering at University of Southern California, has a theory to slow down wildfires from engulfing homes located near dry hills. The idea is based on the concept of "green fire breaks,” which uses plants with high levels of moisture to create a buffer, or moat, around a building.

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Jacob Margolis @JacobMargolis
Cathy Hue @CathyHue

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