M.R. O'Connor — Close Encounters with Fire
Journalist M.R. O'Connor explores the natural and cultural history of fire, from indigenous burning practices to the frontlines of modern wildfire.
Date & Time at 6:00 PM EST
Location The Explorers Club New York, US
Organizer The Explorers Club
Why we picked this
O'Connor reported from inside the Dixie Fire and the Eaton Fire. This is fire understood not as disaster but as a biological and cultural force we forgot how to live with.
M.R. O’Connor presents her work on fire as both a natural force and a cultural practice. The lecture draws on firsthand reporting from major fires including the Dixie Fire and the Eaton Fire, examining wildfires through the lenses of evolution, biology, history, and culture.
The evening includes discussion of contemporary fire practitioners (ranchers, tribal leaders, and land managers) who intentionally ignite fires for landscape restoration, challenging the prevailing assumption that fire is always the enemy.