Fire season is supposed to be in the summer, but in 2025 it showed up in January. ..
In this episode, Chelsi talks with fire wife and corporate finance professional Jenna Partlow about what really happens at home when everything catches fire at once.
Jenna shares how her husband was sent to the Palisades and Eaton Fires for more than two weeks, right over their son’s birthday and their anniversary, while she was recovering from pneumonia and trying to manage work, parenting, and nonstop questions from people who do not understand fire life. She talks about the emotional math of being the one everyone contacts for updates, the pressure to reassure people when she has no information herself, and the shock of having a wildfire close enough that her kids could see the flames from their dinner table.
Chelsi and Jenna dig into the invisible labor of fire families, the expectations placed on firewives to make everything look effortless, and the guilt that shows up when you want a break as soon as he walks through the door. They talk about letting go of timelines, adjusting expectations, and why real community matters when the days stretch into weeks and nothing is certain.
This episode is for every fire spouse who has ever carried the weight of the house, the kids, the schedule, the emotions, and the unknowns and still tried to make the birthday special while ash falls from the sky. It is a reminder that being strong does not mean being silent. It means not doing this life alone.
find Jenna on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennacpartlow/
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Fire Wife Life
02:53 Balancing Work and Family
05:54 Navigating Expectations in Fire Life
08:46 Community Support and Resilience
11:49 Coping with Fire Season Challenges
14:42 The Role of Communication in Relationships
17:50 Media Representation of Fire Families
20:46 Personal Growth and Self-Care
23:38 Advice for New Fire Spouses