Built to Burn
- Directed by: Courtney D. Campbell
- Released: 2022 (educational)
- Year of Production: 2021
Can we ready ourselves to manage wildfire, or will we continue to scramble in disbelief?
Either way, the fires are coming.
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.
— 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
Courtney Campbell is a documentary filmmaker from Portland, Oregon. His background in international policy and human rights informs his view of documentary filmmaking. He believes in creating non-fiction films that can spotlight issues, inspire or drive change and have an urgency and need to be told now. His first feature documentary, Don’t Shout Too Loud, premiered at the BendFilm Festival in 2013 and is held in the libraries at some of the top universities worldwide. He recently completed his second feature documentary, Built to Burn, which explores Oregon’s record-breaking 2020 wildfire season.
Host a Screening and Book the Filmmaker at your Event