Sam Anderson

Danielle is tall with long, striking white hair. She speaks gently and distinctly. I find myself leaning forward slightly to listen when she talks. At the time of the fires, Danielle is a doctor at a local hospital, teaching medical students and residents. She and her husband have three kids, two boys under 10, and a daughter just two months old.

Danielle is tall with long, striking white hair. She speaks gently and distinctly. I find myself leaning forward slightly to listen when she talks. At the time of the fires, Danielle is a doctor at a local hospital, teaching medical students and residents. She and her husband have three kids, two boys under 10, and a daughter just two months old.

So the whole family is crowded around the dinner table. The baby is in a high chair.

So the whole family is crowded around the dinner table. The baby is in a high chair.

By December, their new home is finally coming into focus. Danielle fantasizes about the views she's going to enjoy as she sips her coffee in the morning.

By December, their new home is finally coming into focus. Danielle fantasizes about the views she's going to enjoy as she sips her coffee in the morning.

For Danielle and her family, the house is more than just a place to live.

For Danielle and her family, the house is more than just a place to live.

But as the family chows down on the Chinese-Mexican-Jamaican takey-outy, it's hard to ignore the elephant in the room.

But as the family chows down on the Chinese-Mexican-Jamaican takey-outy, it's hard to ignore the elephant in the room.

For Danielle, as a doctor, the fear runs deep.

For Danielle, as a doctor, the fear runs deep.

And it's not just the most horrific possibilities. There's also the more mundane concerns that are grinding people down.

And it's not just the most horrific possibilities. There's also the more mundane concerns that are grinding people down.

The preserves mean a lot to Danielle, and she understands why people would want to protect them. But she has no sympathy for CSP's methods.

The preserves mean a lot to Danielle, and she understands why people would want to protect them. But she has no sympathy for CSP's methods.

Danielle and her husband installed a couple extra security measures and tried to put aside their fears. Up until now, they've continued to build with no sign of trouble. Danielle likes to take her kids to visit the new house and celebrate the progress. The boys even put up Christmas decorations in the fresh timber frame.

Danielle and her husband installed a couple extra security measures and tried to put aside their fears. Up until now, they've continued to build with no sign of trouble. Danielle likes to take her kids to visit the new house and celebrate the progress. The boys even put up Christmas decorations in the fresh timber frame.

As the family finishes off the last scraps of their Chino Banditos, they're feeling festive. It's Christmas, after all. And they're excited to move into their new home. And just at that moment, they notice a rhythmic thumping sound in the distance.

As the family finishes off the last scraps of their Chino Banditos, they're feeling festive. It's Christmas, after all. And they're excited to move into their new home. And just at that moment, they notice a rhythmic thumping sound in the distance.