California Family Stays Behind to Defend Home From Wildfire

The Coffey family, who stayed in their home in Pescadero, Calif., to fight wildfire that threatened it. Courtesy of Shawnie Coffey

A family in Pescadero, a small town near California’s coast, defended their home from fire for roughly a week and a half before evacuating due to falling trees.

The CZU Lightning Complex wildfire started mid-August when lightning storms hit California. Fire spread to Pescadero and became visible from Shawnie Coffey’s backyard.