According to actor and director Peter Facinelli, the distressing story of a family navigating a tragic wildfire comes to life in “On Fire,” a movie that highlights faith amid tragedy and pays tribute to everyday heroes, like first responders and firefighters. “On Fire,” which hits theaters on September 29, stars Facinellis as Dave, a father who desperately wants to protect his teenage son and eight-month-pregnant wife from a fire ravaging around them.
Based on the true story of one of Northern California’s most devastating wildfires, the movie highlights the real-life struggles families face worldwide who find themselves at the mercy of destructive wildfires. In an interview with The Christian Post, Facinelli recalled the time around November 2021 when the movie was made, noting the increasing reports of fires at the time. Still, he and others involved in the movie never could’ve imagined the wildfires that would devastate Maui in August, killing an estimated 97 people and ravaging an entire community.
He said, “This particular story kind of gives you an inside look as to what some of the families are going through that you see in the news. You hear them tell their stories on the news; maybe you see video footage, but I don’t think you can get a real sense of it.” Based on a combination of actual events from multiple families, “On Fire” brings to light the resilience of families faced with tragedies and how communities rally to support one another.
Facinelli said, “Maybe we can come together as a community and try to figure out how to curtail some of these fires. I don’t know the answer, but I know that as human beings, we’ve overcome a lot more. I think if we put our minds to it, we can do that and slow these fires down and figure out ways to protect our homes and protect each other.” “On Fire” isn’t a faith-based film, but several defining moments in the film revolve around faith. Characters are shown praying for each other and to God. In one scene, the family prays as the fire rages around them, only to see a near-miraculous scene where the fire recedes, leading them to their unscathed house.
Recognizing the crucial role first responders play, Facinelli said “On Fire” seeks to honor their heroism, especially 911 operators. The movie, which at the end is dedicated to firefighters and first responders, draws attention to the challenges they face: the constant battle with their emotions, the immense responsibility of handling multiple lives over the phone and the haunting aftermath of such distress calls.
Facinelli said he hopes “On Fire” honors those who risk their lives to help others and demonstrates how communities come together amidst unfathomable catastrophes. He said, “There’s a lot of lessons in this film, one of them being a lot of times people think the fires aren’t going to come their way, or there’s an evacuation, and they think, ‘Oh, it won’t come to me.’ At the beginning of this film, my character is reluctant to do anything, but it happens that fast. And this film shows you just how fast that happens.”
“On Fire” hits theaters on September 29.