ABSTRACT Wildfires are both a devastating reality and a growing concern in the face of our changing climate. Brian Fies’s A Fire Story is a graphic narrative that sensitively presents the harrowing experiences of losing his home to Northern California wildfires (2017). This article offers insights from an email interview with Fies, examining the distinctive narrative affordances of the comic medium. The interview is divided into two sections. Part one titled ‘Drawn from the Ashes: Of Comics and Climate Change,’ Fies responds to questions regarding the artistic choices (visual storytelling elements etc.) he made to convey the emotional spectrum of the wildfire experience. Part two, titled ‘Rebuilding from Ashes: Resilience and Realities,’ Fies presents his perspective on the role of personal storytelling in addressing climate change and resilience. Put together, Fies reflects on the potential of comics to evoke empathy, raise awareness, and enable meaningful dialogue on urgent issues such as wildfires, climate resilience and natural disasters. In so doing, the present interview contributes to the discussion on the intersection of comics, personal narrative, and environmental crises, offering a nuanced understanding of the role of graphic storytelling in conveying the impact of natural disasters.
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