Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
‘ON MONDAY, MY HOUSE DISAPPEARED.’
That’s the first, big, bold line of A Fire Story, the graphic novel memoir where artist Brian Fies recollects losing his home to the devastating California wildfires in 2017 and the aftermath.
Brian Fies takes readers to 1 a.m. on October 9, 2017, when he and his wife woke up in their home to the smell of smoke and an ominously glowing sky. As panic set in, the couple quickly grabbed whatever they thought was necessary and rushed to safety, not knowing it would be the last time they would see the home they had planned to spend the rest of their lives in.
A Fire Story largely focuses on Brian’s personal experience of coming to terms with the fire and losing all his belongings. Fortunately, he and his wife had the option to immediately move in with their twin daughters, who hosted them throughout the crisis. Some of the other survivor stories, briefly mentioned in the graphic novel like news features, are even more interesting than Brian’s account. For instance, there’s Dottie Wilson, a senior citizen who lived in a mobile-home park for low-income seniors. Dottie faced a nightmarish ordeal trying to find alternative accommodation after the fire. Ironically, while the mobile-home park wasn’t destroyed, it was deemed unsafe to inhabit, and insurance companies refused to pay because the homes hadn’t been burned down. “It was a catch-22”, in Dottie’s words.
The artwork in A Fire Story is simple, and Brian Fies vividly illustrates his experiences, from the day of the fire to the following weeks as his family struggled to rebuild and restart. However, the color scheme in the graphic novel feels a little jarring and doesn’t fully complement the sombre tone of the story. One of the highlights of the book is the inclusion of real-life photos of the Fies family’s burned house and belongings within the panels, adding authenticity to the narrative. It would’ve been more engaging, though, if Brian had illustrated the other survivors’ stories instead of presenting their accounts in text-heavy sections.
Overall, A Fire Story is an engaging graphic memoir where the author neither embellishes details nor exaggerates his loss for emotional effect. While it’s evident that he comes from a place of privilege, with his primary concerns after the fire being materialistic, such as the loss of heirlooms and memories, it’s a reminder that, for many, their home represents their life and identity. Whether or not readers share Brian’s perspective, the story highlights the profound impact such a loss can have, and that’s something worth reflecting on.
A Fire Story is also on Kindle Unlimited.
Read Next: In Utero: Graphic Novel Review
Also Read: ‘The Easy Life in Kamusari’ – Book Review (Audio Version Below)