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Perspectives on Wildfire: A Conversation with M.R. O’Connor

Apr 28, 2025 | Evergreen, News, Wildfire

In the wake of recent wildfires affecting communities across the country, we turned to journalist and author M.R. O’Connor for insights into the complexities of wildfire and its evolving role in our environment. Her book, Ignition, chronicles her journey from seeing fire as a destructive force to recognizing its role as a valuable tool in shaping healthy landscapes.

As a Fellow in our cross-sector Fellowship Program, O’Connor brought her unique perspective on wildfire, shaped by her extensive research and firsthand experiences in the field. Her cohort recently concluded their two-year program focused on identifying strategies for individual and collective action on mitigating the risk of catastrophic wildfire.

In this conversation, we explore her experiences, the evolution of her perspective, and the key lessons gained through the Fellowship Program—lessons that are more relevant than ever in our changing world.

As a journalist and author covering the intersection of science and society, how did you come to focus on wildfire?

I became interested in fire while traveling in Australia and seeing an intentionally-burned landscape in the Northern Territories. It was my first time seeing fire on a landscape and realizing that people used this element as a tool for caring for their land. Like many stories I report on, it took a few more years before I connected all the dots and realized there was a fascinating history of fire use in North America and how it connects to the wildfires we see on the news.

Early on, I decided that training as a wildland firefighter would not only provide me with a lot of insight into the work of prescribed fire and suppression but help me get closer to the people who interact the most with this element.

In your book, Ignition, you describe a shift in your understanding of wildfire, from viewing it as a source of fear to recognizing it as a valuable tool. Could you elaborate on how others might also make this shift in their own thinking?

I think getting interested in the landscape you call home is a very useful way to gain a new perspective. What is the history of the land? Why does it look the way it does? How did it look a hundred years ago? Asking these questions can open up an exciting journey of discovery and learning about ecology and history. An estimated eighty percent of North American landscapes are fire-adapted, so asking questions about your own home is likely to lead you to a new understanding of fire and its role in shaping the world around you.

Over the past two years, you have participated in our cross-sector Fellowship Program, which focused on the topic of wildfires. How has collaborating with individuals from different areas of expertise shaped your perspective on this timely issue?

As an independent journalist, it’s always a gift to be able to interact and learn from a group of people who bring their own experiences, ideas, and research to a conversation. I have gained even more respect for the complexity of this topic and how many entry points there are to telling stories about it, from infrastructure to public health to politics.

Throughout your career studying wildfire and fire management, what is one important insight you believe the public should understand, or something they should start considering?

Not every wildfire is a disaster. I hope that we can expand our understanding of fire and its role in healthy landscapes so that we can better prepare ourselves and our communities for the future.

You were on the ground during the recent fires in Los Angeles, documenting the efforts of wildland firefighters and the community. What stood out to you from that experience?

I am always awed by the tremendous care and knowledge that wildland firefighters bring to their work. They are some of the hardest-working folks I’ve ever encountered and deserve a lot more acknowledgement (and compensation!) for what they do everyday on the fire line.

About M.R. O’Connor:

M.R. O’Connor is a journalist who writes about the politics and ethics of science, technology, and conservation. Her work has appeared online and she is the author of three books, including Ignition: Lighting Fires in a Burning World (September 2023, Bold Type Books). She is a certified wildland firefighter and has reported on recent wildfires, prescribed burning, and fire management.

You can learn more about O’Connor and purchase her books at mroconnor.info.

Evergreen Spring ’25

Evergreen Spring ’25

Apr 28, 2025 | ,

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