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

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

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.