How could losing everything you own in a fire as a teen effect you as an adult?

Of course it could! The human mind doesn't forget things easily. When you have everything taken away you'll become someone who holds onto every little thing. If you notice grand parents who grew up in the depression hoard rubber bands, money, items, milk cartons. Because they fear it could come back. If you notice few people who grew up in the time of the Cold war or WW2 don't drive forgien cars or trust communist countries. You have to learn to break the shell eventually, but some people don't want to give it up.