Paradise still recovering 5 years after wildfire destroys California town
The Camp Fire leveled about 11,000 homes in the town, displacing most of the 26,000 people who lived there. Five years later, only about 2,400 homes have been rebuilt. More are being built every day. The town now has just under 10,000 people living there.
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ASSOCIATED PRESS
Homes leveled by the Camp Fire line the Ridgewood Mobile Home Park retirement community in Paradise, Calif., Monday, Dec. 3, 2018.ASSOCIATED PRESS
Homes leveled by the Camp Fire line Valley Ridge Drive in Paradise, Calif., Monday, Dec. 3, 2018.ASSOCIATED PRESS
New growth lines the side of a canyon on the east side of Paradise, Calif., Wednesday, Oct. 25.ASSOCIATED PRESS
Homes built after the Camp Fire line a hillside at Paradise Mobile Estates, Thursday, Oct. 26, in Paradise, Calif.ASSOCIATED PRESS
The sun sets over Valley Ridge Drive, Thursday, Oct. 26, in Paradise, Calif. Empty lots, homes under construction and residences built after the Camp Fire line the street.ASSOCIATED PRESS
Empty rows line the Ridgewood Mobile Home Park, Wednesday, Oct. 25, five years after the Camp Fire leveled the Paradise, Calif., retirement community.ASSOCIATED PRESS
A worker monitors a burn pile while clearing vegetation, Wednesday, Oct. 25, in Paradise, Calif. His crew was clearing the property of dead wood and flammable vegetation to meet defensible space requirements Paradise adopted following the Camp Fire.ASSOCIATED PRESS
Derrick Harlan sprays water on a burn pile, Wednesday, Oct. 25, in Paradise, Calif. He was clearing a property of dead wood and flammable vegetation to meet defensible space requirements Paradise adopted following the Camp Fire.ASSOCIATED PRESS
Derrick Harlan plays with Dax while clearing a property of vegetation, Wednesday, Oct. 25, in Paradise, Calif. Harlan, who lost his home in the Camp Fire, now owns a business conducting flammable fuel reduction to keep properties safer from wildfire and comply with Paradise's defensible space requirements.ASSOCIATED PRESS
Empty lots and homes built since the Camp Fire line Valley Ridge Drive, Thursday, Oct. 26, in Paradise, Calif.ASSOCIATED PRESS
Jose Villanueva carries siding while building a home, Wednesday, Oct. 25, in Paradise, Calif. The project is partly funded by ReCoverCA, a state program providing money to rebuild homes in disaster areas.ASSOCIATED PRESS
Cars pass a wildfire awareness billboard as the sun sets behind Paradise, Calif., Thursday, Oct. 26.ASSOCIATED PRESS
Gwen Nordgen, president of Paradise Lutheran Church, discusses the Camp Fire and its aftermath, Thursday, Oct. 26, in Paradise, Calif.ASSOCIATED PRESS
A worker installs siding on a new home, Wednesday, Oct. 25, in Paradise, Calif. The construction is partly funded by ReCoverCA, a state program providing money to rebuild homes in disaster areas.ASSOCIATED PRESS
Gwen Nordgen stands outside Paradise Lutheran Church, which she leads as church council president, Thursday, Oct. 26, in Paradise, Calif.ASSOCIATED PRESS
Don Criswell, accompanied by his dog Tucker, drives on Criswell Ranch, Wednesday, Oct. 25, in Paradise, Calif. Criswell and his wife fought to save structures as the Camp Fire tore through their ranch in 2018.ASSOCIATED PRESS
Paradise Mayor Greg Bolin looks out over Butte Creek Canyon from his back deck, Thursday, Oct. 26, in Paradise, Calif. Bolin, who lost his home in the 2018 Camp Fire, rebuilt on a different parcel with a similar view.ASSOCIATED PRESS
Paradise Mayor Greg Bolin stands outside his home, Thursday, Oct. 26, in Paradise, Calif. Bolin, who lost his home in the 2018 Camp Fire, rebuilt on a different parcel nearby.ASSOCIATED PRESS
Illustrator Steve Ferchaud paints a mural commemorating the Camp Fire, Thursday, Oct. 26, in Paradise, Calif.ASSOCIATED PRESS
Max the dog and farm animals watch as Don Criswell drives through his ranch, Wednesday, Oct. 25, in Paradise, Calif. Criswell and his wife fought to save structures as the Camp Fire tore through their ranch in 2018.ASSOCIATED PRESS
Sandy Miller speaks with Nic's Deli & Wine Bar owner Nikki Jones, left, Wednesday, Oct. 25, in Paradise, Calif. Jones lost two businesses in 2018's Camp Fire.ASSOCIATED PRESS
Jason Pieper hugs Kathy Desert at Nic's Deli & Wine Bar, Wednesday, Oct. 25, in Paradise, Calif. Pieper is in the process of opening the town's first brewery. Nic's owner, Nikki Jones, at right, lost two businesses in 2018's Camp Fire.ASSOCIATED PRESS
Nic's Deli & Wine Bar owner Nikki Jones, right, speaks with Kathy Dysert, Wednesday, Oct. 25, in Paradise, Calif. Jones lost two businesses in 2018's Camp Fire.