After Paradise

It's been two years since the catastrophic Camp Fire ripped through Paradise, Magalia, Concow, and surrounding communities. In this special report, we look back at lessons learned from that tragedy... from fire management to affordable housing. Also have a conversation with the Butte County sheriff about how his office has used what happened in the Camp Fire to inform multiple crises since then. And Up the Road's Kim Weir shares stories from the Ridge.

In this episode of “After Paradise,” we commemorate the year anniversary of the Camp Fire by focusing on where we are now, 365 days after the fire. We’ll hear from those working in mental health about how the one year mark is triggering stress and anxiety for many in the community, and about practical ways to manage. We’ll hear about recovery from survivors living in communities all over the Camp Fire burn scar. And we’ll visit with a few people providing a message of hope. It’s been a long road, and it may not feel like it now, but we can turn the challenges and devastation of this disaster into Post Traumatic growth.

Tonight on “After Paradise” it’s been 6 months since the Camp Fire started. This week, North State Public Radio commemorates the anniversary with a special one-hour program. We’ll check in with officials and those who were displaced about how their lives have changed since the fire and what life holds for them going forward.

RVs, mother-in-law units, couches, spare rooms — six months after the Camp Fire those who were displaced are still scrambling for housing, living wherever they can. NSPR’s Marc Albert went to the Matador Motel in Chico where he met Lorrie Peters Summers whose been living with her family in a room there since the fire.

The deadly wildfire that tore through Paradise six months ago is in the distant past to most of us. But thousands of people displaced by the Camp Fire are still piecing their lives back together, many, trying to find a permanent place to live. Reporter Pauline Bartolone has the story of one family that’s trying to find peace while they’re in housing limbo.

Thousands of people fled the Ridge November 8, 2018. In one day the population of the neighboring City of Chico exploded. In terms of shelter, Chico was already in a housing crisis before the fire, now that’s been exacerbated as those who were displaced search for any type of dwelling to live in that they can find. Ed Mayer is the Executive Director of the Housing Authority of the County Of Butte. NSPR’s Sarah Bohannon spoke with him to find out more about the current housing crisis and about vacancy rates before the fire.

Paradise Mayor Jody Jones became one of the most visible faces after the fire as a spokeswoman for her town. She and her husband lost their home on Nighty Lane. NSPR's Tess Vigeland met up with Jones at her burned out property to hear her story of recovery.

Towering, shade-giving Ponderosas were as emblematic of Paradise as its Dogtown Nugget and Gold Rush origin, which is probably why so many of you have written in with questions about trees. We have answered specific questions about what to do if you have burned trees on your property and whether native species will be removed if they pose a hazard on our website .

Back in the gold rush area, a fifty-four pound gold nugget was found in a small community on the ridge. It was named after the town where it was found and is known as the Dogtown Nugget. At the time, the discovery made headlines across the nation. And the Town of Paradise has been celebrating it for years.

Six months since the Camp Fire struck, officials in Butte County told KQED's Michelle Wiley that some students are experiencing the same mental health issues they had just after the fire. And they need more counselors to support them. Pamela Beeman had been retired for five years when she got the call from Butte County.

This week we get our regular update from government officials and they also answer your questions about debris removal, rebuilding and housing. Earlier this morning NSPR’s Marc Albert spoke with Rebeca Kelly of FEMA, Justin Jacobs of CalOES, Casey Hatcher of Butte County and Colette Curtis from the Town of Paradise to get the latest.

Tonight on “After Paradise” it’s been 25 weeks since the Camp Fire started. We first get our regular update from Butte County, the Town of Paradise, FEMA and CalOES. We also go to Paradise and hear from residents who celebrated Gold Nugget Days over the weekend. The annual tradition was held Saturday for the first time since the Camp Fire. We also answer many of your questions — about Phase Two debris removal, how FEMA makes decisions about who gets housing and why so many trees are being cut down on the ridge.

The Camp Fire displaced thousands from their homes in November. Some are now living in other places across the United States, but many have stayed in the area and are now living in Chico, where housing is extremely limited. This lack of housing has led to recreational vehicles popping up as momentary dwellings all over the city. NSPR recently received a question from an NSPR listener asking about temporary housing options for people—this person was specifically interesting in knowing whether or not shipping containers or tiny homes were viable options.

Tonight on "After Paradise" it's been 24 weeks since the Camp Fire started. We get an update from four government officials working in Camp Fire recovery, we hear from Chico News & Review Managing Editor Meredith Cooper about a group looking to better manage future wildfire in Concow and about why some who perished from fire related causes aren’t being counted in the death tool, and we also hear from students at three universities who’ve been envisioning the rebuild of the Ridge and have blueprints and ideas to share with the community.

Tonight on “After Paradise” it’s been 23 weeks since the Camp Fire started. In this episode, we hear the latest on PG&E, debris removal and the redesign of Paradise. We also hear from residents rebuilding in Coffey Park — a community in Santa Rosa that was destroyed in the Tubbs Fire a year-and-a-half ago. We also take a look at homelessness after the Camp Fire, and hear a story about the Helltown Hotshots – four men who stayed behind to help save their community.

The Camp Fire destroyed nearly everything in its path, but in the community of Helltown a few of the community’s icons were spared. That’s thanks to four friends who stayed behind and battled the fire. We now turn to independent producer Matt Fidler who learned the details of why the Centerville Museum and old school house are still standing.

It’s hard to know what the new Paradise will be once it’s rebuilt and to know how many people will stay. For some possible insight we turn to a place that’s a year ahead in its fire recovery efforts.

Today, those determined to return home are gathering to talk about reconstruction the town. But many residents also met earlier this week at Paradise Alliance Church to weigh in on recovery plans. NSPR’s Marc Albert has more on both meetings.

The deadline to sign up for the state’s debris removal program passed earlier this week. Roughly 500 people still have not signed up to get debris removed from their property. Butte County officials are now considering gaining access to people’s homes through more extreme measures, as KQED ’s Sonja Hutson reports.

The Camp Fire destroyed nearly everything in its path that day in November, 2018 including most of the town’s hospital. Adventist Health is now scattered throughout the county. For months staff of its previous cancer center have had to drive hours to visit patients who have been displaced. But now, they’ll be able to see those patients in Chico, as a new Adventist Health Cancer Care Center has just opened.

Climate change is a topic that is increasingly becoming part of the discussion about rebuilding Paradise – and last week it was a large focus, as Chico State held its annual This Way To Sustainability Conference . NSPR’s Dave Schlom interviewed four survivors of the Camp and Carr fires – Susan Dobra, Chelsea West, Melissa Darnell and Luigi Balsamo – during the panel.