Close Encounters with Fire
From The Observatory
Date
March 9, 2026
Location
The Explorers Club Headquarters, New York
Pricing
In-person (Member)
—
20 USD
In-person (Non-member)
—
35 USD
Area
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Join The Explorers Club on March 9th for a close look at the natural and cultural history of fire, from millennia-old indigenous practices to modern wildfire fighting.
Wildfires have become a symbol of climate apocalypse, frequently cited as unambiguous evidence of fossil-fuel induced ecological disaster. But get close enough to a fire on the landscape and you may discover a far more complicated and fascinating story about evolution, biology, history, and culture. Join award-winning journalist and author M.R. O’Connor on this infinitely more hopeful journey of discovery as she recounts her intrepid reporting into some of the world’s most remote and beautiful places to understand the powerful and ancient element of wildfire.Agenda
O’Connor will discuss the fascinating natural and cultural history of fire, her process of becoming a “student of fire,” and what it is like to embed with firefighting crews on some of the biggest megafires in recent history including the Dixie Fire and Eaton Fire. O’Connor will also introduce you to the incredible fire practitioners working today–ranchers, tribal leaders, and land managers–who are purposefully igniting fires to restore their landscapes and communities. Weaving first-hand reportage, photography, and stories from the fireline, this event offers an inspiring and fresh perspective on a critical global issue.
Key Speaker: M.R. O’Connor
Participants
The Explorers Club
Host, Organizer | Homepage
Headquartered in New York City with a community of Chapters around the world, The Explorers Club has been supporting scientific expeditions of all disciplines, and uniting our members in the bonds of good fellowship for over a century.
