Alannah and Nova

The firestorm struck Conjola Park on New Year’s Eve. Alannah was stuck on the freeway when her father called, “Glenn’s house is on fire I’ve got to go, I love you!” he said. She waited in the car, under a red sky. An hour and a half later he called back. The small lakeside village lost 89 homes, flames hit on three sides at once. It was so fast, residents could do little to defend their houses.