Over the past two years, I’ve been immersed in one of the most meaningful projects of my career as a director: Fire Lives Here. Spanning an entire calendar year in Colorado’s Front Range, Fire Lives Here reveals how fire is not just a seasonal threat, but a natural and necessary force—one that, when understood and managed properly, can protect the forests we love from even greater destruction.

Filming this story meant going deep into the field alongside firefighters, land stewards, and scientists as they worked to restore resilience to our forests. It meant enduring bitter-cold mornings to capture prescribed burns, riding alongside fire crews into smoke-filled hillsides, and documenting the tense, unpredictable moments of major wildfires. Few shoots have tested my resolve and respect for my subjects like this one did—bearing witness to the bravery of those who fight fires and the quiet dedication of those who prepare the land to withstand them.

At its core, Fire Lives Here is a story of hope and ingenuity. It explores the USDA Forest Service’s innovative “ribbon strategy,” where crews thin and limb trees, build and burn slash piles, and create strategic firebreaks designed to slow wildfires and restore natural fire cycles. Through sweat, science, and a willingness to see fire differently, these efforts are making a tangible impact. As a filmmaker, my goal was to bring audiences as close as possible to both the urgency and the possibility.

This project embodies what I strive to do in every story I tell: make the unseen visible, and honor the people who work tirelessly behind the scenes to protect the places we all cherish, which includes our public lands.