Stories of Urban Climate Change: Fire
From The Story Collider by Story Collider, Inc.
April 17, 2026 · 31 min
About this episode
This episode features stories from Tracy Drain and Victoria Dinov about their personal encounters with wildfires and their impacts on urban communities.
Wildfires have become more frequent and more destructive in recent years, increasingly threatening communities on the edges of — and sometimes within — our cities. What was once considered a distant risk is now a reality for millions of people living in urban areas. In this week’s episode, both of our storytellers share their experiences with wildfires and the ways those encounters impacted them. Part 1: When wildfires erupt in Los Angeles, Tracy Drain’s work on the Europa Clipper mission is suddenly at risk. Part 2: As a child, Victoria Dinov lives through a historic wildfire that stays with her long after the ashes settle. Tracy Drain is a systems engineer who has helped to develop, test and operate a variety of robotic spacecraft over the past 25 years. A life-long learner, she loves encouraging people to nurture their curiosity and explore the wonders that surround us. She serves on the planning committee for the National Academy of Science’s Science and Entertainment Exchange and the advisory board for the University of Kentucky Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering department. As a National Geographic Explorer, she takes audiences on a tour of our universe in her National…
People in this episode
Guests: Tracy Drain, Victoria Dinov
Topics covered
- urban climate change
- wildfires
- personal experiences
- science communication
- community impact
Keywords
- wildfires
- urban areas
- climate change
- Los Angeles
- personal stories
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: National Academy of Science, National Geographic, University of Kentucky
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