Personal

The air itself was grim, heavy with fate. Walter regretted allowing his son to come along to help. But, can't undecide that now. No one knew this would happen today, but it could be any day of these horrible fires. California, wounded for months now- but today was different. Adding to the gruesome count, eighty-five already known perished, hundreds more missing, unaccounted.

The nation's deadliest wildfire in a century, the flames ignited Nov. 8 in the parched Sierra Nevada foothills. It quickly spread across 240 square miles, including thousands of homes.

Walter had volunteered for a decade, his teen now old enough to help. But no one is ever old enough to see death up close personal, unexpected, final. At the support station, Walter could see his boy- fifteen, but much older today- was shaken, quiet. He will wait a little while before talking with him.