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A wildfire with your Airbnb?

A wildfire with your Airbnb?

Guests who book vacation rentals through Airbnb often have no idea that they're booking in a high-risk fire area. And the company provides no warning or escape plan if disaster strikes.

Headlines From The Times · Mike Heflin, Madalyn Amato, Heba Elorbany, Ashlea Brown, Kasia Broussalian, Kinsee Morlan, Denise Guerra, Mario Diaz, David Toledo, Jazmín Aguilera, Shani O. Hilton, Mark Nieto, Gustavo Arellano, Shannon Lin

September 12, 202219m 28s

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Show Notes

A Los Angeles Times analysis found that thousands of short-term Airbnb rentals are in California’s most hazardous fire zones. But the company does not provide warnings or evacuation information to guests when they make a reservations, and some customers say the company’s refund policy adds to the potential dangers.

Today, as climate change threatens so many aspects of our lives, are even our vacations not safe anymore? Read the full transcript here.

Host: Gustavo Arellano

Guests: L.A. Times reporters Ben Poston and Alex Wigglesworth

More reading:

In California’s high-risk fire country, Airbnb offers guests no warning or escape plan

Is your vacation rental in a risky wildfire zone? What you need to know

California fires are burning faster, hotter, more intensely — and getting harder to fight

Topics

californiashort-term rentalsairbnbfire dangerfiressafetyclimate changefire risk