Pico Ayer's Experience with Wildfires

Pico Ayer shares his harrowing encounter with the 1990 wildfire in Santa Barbara that destroyed his family home and left him trapped for three hours before being rescued. This ordeal not only rendered him homeless but also led to a profound reflection on the nature of loss and survival. He highlights the immediate chaos he faced, grabbing only his mother’s cat as they fled the flames that surrounded them. The experience solidified Ayer’s realization of what truly matters in life, transforming his perspective about possessions and priorities.