The Fire Break | Innovations in Wildfire
The Fire Break | Innovations in Wildfire
Steve Wolf | Wildfire Scientist
RockRose Risk's Andrew Engler Plans to Fix Wildfire Insurance
59 minutes Posted Jan 14, 2026 at 8:47 pm.
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Show notes

Former "evil insurance executive" turned founder Andrew Engler explains how his new venture, RockRose Risk, is using an $80 billion problem to create a massive opportunity for homeowners and businesses. He breaks down why the traditional insurance market is failing, how 1000% premium increases are actually a signal for systemic change, and how RockRose is providing massive discounts to those willing to harden their properties and manage local fuels.

In this episode, you'll learn about:

  • The 35% Discount: How RockRose works with 16+ global carriers to give money back to clients who perform verified mitigation.

  • The Insurance Rabbit Hole: A look into the complex world of reinsurance, retrocessionaires, and why local rates are often dictated by global models.

  • Infrastructure vs. Climate: Why Andrew believes wildfire is primarily a failure of infrastructure management, not just a weather problem.

  • The "Tylenol Murder" Fallacy: A critical look at "security theater" in disaster prevention versus addressing core vulnerabilities.

  • Pro-Entropic Business: Why the next generation of successful companies will be those that become more valuable as environmental volatility increases.

  • The Fire Quadrangle: Steve and Andrew discuss the physics of suppression—from removing fuel to breaking the chemical reaction.

  • Privatizing Results: A controversial look at shifting from a "time and materials" firefighting model to a "performance-based" model like SpaceX or FedEx.