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.

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.