Firefighter Loses Home to Save Town in Park Fire

Instead of stopping to rescue his belongings, Johnathan Tehan hurried to join the effort to defend his community from the fire.

Johnathan Tehan’s home burned to the ground in the Park Fire in Cohasset, Calif. Courtesy of Johnathan Tehan

Johnathan Tehan and his family were on a camping trip about six and a half hours from home when the Park Fire in Northern California started in July. He received a notice about the fire and began communicating with his fellow firefighters back home on the hills of Cohasset.

After more discussion and weather assessment, they determined that the fire was dangerous.