When a fire burns a house, not just a structure is destroyed. It’s a home; perhaps a favorite chair, a photo album or the area place where a child took their first steps. 

And trauma affects more than just a homeowner. 

“In my conversations with families who have been impacted by wildfires and first responders, interestingly much of the impact is similar,” said Shawn Whitney, assistant director at Colorado State University’s Center for Family and Couple Therapy. “With a natural disaster like wildfires, there tends to be this sudden exposure to the trauma. That often increases the impact that trauma has on those that endure it, experience it and ultimately survive it.” 

Whitney said people should understand these nine things related to trauma from housefires.