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last yr.

Five Years Post-Camp Fire: Paradise Residents Reflect on Trauma, Recovery, and Rebuilding Efforts

Five years after Paradise, California was nearly erased by the state's deadliest wildfire, residents grapple with PTSD, rebuilding efforts see only a fraction of the original homes restored, and population stands at under half of pre-fire levels; local infrastructure, businesses and community efforts show signs of resilience and growth.

Overview

  • Five years after the Camp Fire in Paradise, California, the deadliest in the state's history, the town's population stands at under half of its pre-fire level with only about 2,500 of the 11,000 destroyed homes having been rebuilt.
  • Many residents, including survivors like Gwen Nordgren, suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, with some, like Shari Bernacette, moving to areas posing significantly lesser fire risks.
  • Paradise, once a thickly wooded town, now offers clear views of canyons due to the loss of vegetation from the fire. Just six out of 36 mobile home parks serving low-income and older residents have reopened.
  • Paradise Mayor Greg Bolin announced that by 2025, all of the town's overhead power lines will be buried underground and by 2026, all public roads will be repaved.
  • In terms of infrastructure and businesses, there are signs of revival with recent openings of stores such as Big Lots and Ross Dress for Less.