As Southern California continues to recover from the devastating Eaton and Palisades wildfires that erupted in January, director Logan Thomas Peterson has completed principal photography on “Afterburn: The Psychological Fallout of the L.A. Wildfires.” The feature-length documentary explores the emotional toll endured by survivors, first responders, and displaced animals, while advocating for stronger disaster response systems.
Peterson, who filmed near evacuation zones as close as authorities would allow, said his personal interest in psychology informed the film’s mental health focus. “An older gentleman approached me while I was filming in Santa Monica and asked to look through my camera lens,” Peterson said. “He thought he might spot his house along the PCH. I watched him realize, in real time, that it was gone. That moment stayed with me. I want the audience to feel moments like that.”
The film includes firsthand accounts from fire survivors in Altadena and Pacific Palisades, and features a wide range of expert voices. George Everly, a disaster psychologist from Johns Hopkins University, gives a rare on-camera interview on the importance of psychological first aid. David Eisenman of UCLA discusses the link between climate change and mental health.
Animal behaviorist Jackson Galaxy, host of “My Cat from Hell,” shares insight into how pets respond to trauma and praises Los Angeles residents for stepping up to shelter displaced animals. Tracy Lovric of the Resource Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains offers practical guidance for property resilience and wildfire prevention.
Peterson and producing partner Brad Highland—Midwest transplants now based in Southern California—have worked in film, television, and commercial media as assistant directors. “Afterburn” marks their first feature documentary, backed by the nonprofit Grateful Film Fund.
A crowdfunding campaign is currently underway to support post-production efforts in time to meet key film festival submission deadlines. Updates and campaign details are available on the film’s Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn pages.
“By elevating survivors’ voices and frustrations,” the filmmakers stated, “‘Afterburn’ challenges audiences to confront the trauma that lingers long after the news cameras are gone.”
Watch the teaser trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8Mq2MgA2nw.
Get our daily Pasadena newspaper in your email box. Free.
Get all the latest Pasadena news, more than 10 fresh stories daily, 7 days a week at 7 a.m.
