Fire just north of Anne

[MandysMom]

Articles like this are both sad and interesting. I think the rest of the country believes the disaster is over and have moved on. For the people of the mountain communities of Paradise and Magalia and that region, it's an ongoing daily nightmare. Thanks for keeping us updated.
Velda

[Bethers]

Velda, the same happens after floods, hurricanes, etc. Port Aransas in Texas is still struggling. As is Florida. As is Puerto Rico. Years later people are struggling. But people move on and don't understand that those living it can't move on.

[MandysMom]

I agree Beth. I get frustrated with people who make the blanket statement that the people should just cut losses and move elsewhere. Some have but many can't as they deal with a entire region with high costs and housing shortages and have no job to move to, plus ongoing insurance issues where they lived.
Velda

[Bethers]

Right! And even if they move, CAN financially move, it's because of lots of help and can take a long time before they are whole again.

[Birdie]

Housing is a devasting cost for survivors/victims. We have Hurricane Harvey folks that are being told they will have to leave the area as the Government Housing they lived in will not be rebuilt. There will be no $70 apartments available in the area. They just don’t believe it as they have lived for years on their $700 SS check, paying $70 a month rent just over there. They have been living in hotels, paid for by FEMA, since Sept 2017 and have to be out by this Fri, Feb 2019. They will likely be on the streets in Corpus Christi or Houston, maybe San Antonio. Not a good thing when you are in your 60’s, 70’s, & 80’s. Living in poverty is a real thing. I can see trying to find ‘affordable’ housing in CA as an impossible task. I’d bet housing codes will become very restrictive for rebuilding there too - at least it has here in Rockport, TX. This makes rebuilding an impossible task unless you have a lot of money. Don’t even think about putting your 5th wheel, TT, or motorhome on your bit of land in town, or maybe even the County. I just think some one some where is making money on all this ‘new code’. I see economic recovery 6 to 8 or 10 years out. We created a ‘you owe me mentality’ and now we have to deal with it. My. Home will be rolling down the road before long.

[Cudedog]

Camp Fire Update, February 8, 2019

Paradise residents recall horrifying escape from the Camp Fire: 'This should never happen again' [article includes video]
https://abcnews.go.com/US/paradise-residents-recall-horrifying-escape-camp-fire-happen/story?id=59933153

Don’t even think about putting your 5th wheel, TT, or motorhome on your bit of land in town, or maybe even the County.

Toxic Debris Forces Camp Fire Victims To Stop Living On Their Land
"Wildfire victims, camping on their burned-out properties, must move because toxic debris must be cleaned up."
https://www.npr.org/2019/02/07/692259117/toxic-debris-forces-camp-fire-victims-to-stop-camping-on-their-land

Why the cleanup from California’s Camp Fire could hit a major roadblock [three months since the fire, clean-up is only just beginning]
https://www.sacbee.com/news/state/california/fires/article225184860.html

Camp Fire map shows how survivors have moved all across the United States to start over
https://krcrtv.com/news/camp-fire/camp-fire-map-shows-how-survivors-have-moved-all-across-the-united-states-to-start-over

[Cudedog]

Camp Fire Update, February 12, 2019

Grim report: Camp Fire victims mostly seniors
https://www.bendbulletin.com/nation/6924758-151/grim-report-camp-fire-victims-mostly-seniors

1,000 trips made per day from Paradise to Anderson with debris. ". . . as of Monday there are 37 properties cleared of Camp Fire debris [over 18,000 structures burned - Anne]. He said the whole process should take well over a year. [Note: the town of Anderson is approx. 80 miles from Paradise, thus 160 miles per round-trip - Anne]
https://krcrtv.com/news/shasta-county/1000-trips-made-per-day-from-paradise-to-anderson-with-debris

Gallagher introduces legislation to help Paradise recover, rebuild post Camp Fire
https://krcrtv.com/news/camp-fire/gallagher-introduces-legislation-to-help-paradise-recover-rebuild-post-camp-fire

Camp Fire Memorial honors the 85 lives lost - More than 800 attend event
https://www.paradisepost.com/2019/02/11/camp-fire-memorial-honors-the-85-lives-lost/

[Cudedog]

Latest Camp Fire update, 02/26/19

Camp Fire 911 calls reveal clearer picture of confusion
https://abc7news.com/camp-fire-911-calls-reveal-clearer-picture-of-confusion/5154630/

Rains and flooding hurt Camp Fire survivors trying to recover
https://krcrtv.com/news/butte-county/rains-and-flash-flooding-hit-camp-fire-survivors-hard

Family Reunites With Dog That Disappeared During The Deadly Camp Fire [Anne: Dog missing since November fire]
https://www.npr.org/2019/02/21/696600114/family-reunites-with-dog-who-went-missing-during-the-deadly-camp-fire

Cats affected by Camp Fire up for adoption
https://www.kolotv.com/content/news/Cats-affected-by-the-Camp-Fire-up-for-adoption-506080611.html

Their Home Survived The Camp Fire — But Their Insurance Did Not
https://www.npr.org/2019/02/17/695205917/their-home-survived-the-camp-fire-but-their-insurance-did-not

Deputies: Wanted felon found camping in Camp Fire zone with stolen weapon
https://krcrtv.com/news/butte-county/deputies-wanted-felon-found-camping-in-camp-fire-zone-with-stolen-weapon

In Paradise, housing, water and jobs prove elusive in Camp Fire’s aftermath
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/in-paradise-housing-water-and-jobs-prove-elusive-in-camp-fires-aftermath

New report warns Chico economy 'at risk' after Camp Fire [Anne: Chico, Ca., is the largest town nearest to where the Camp Fire burned. A great many people have relocated - or have attempted to relocate - to Chico]
https://krcrtv.com/news/butte-county/new-report-warns-chico-economy-at-risk-after-camp-fire

Enloe addresses post Camp Fire challenges caused by spike in population [Anne: Enloe Medical Center is the main Medical Center in Chico, Ca.]
https://krcrtv.com/news/butte-county/enloe-addresses-post-camp-fire-challenges-caused-by-spike-in-population

[Cudedog]

Camp Fire update 04/05/19

Paradise Lost [note from Anne: Paradise is not part of the Cascade range. It is located in the Sierra Foothills]

Right now, six months later, there is still no city water available. No schools are open. Only a few gas stations and food stores which escaped the blaze are open. Additionally, the soil in many of the burned sites is loaded with toxic materials from the melted metal, plastics, and other building substances. Before one can rebuild, one must decontaminate the soils. Indeed, the Camp Fire is the largest hazardous material cleanup site in the state of California
https://www.counterpunch.org/2019/04/05/paradise-lost-reflections-on-the-camp-fire/

CAMP FIRE SURVIVOR AND BURN VICTIM SHARES STORY OF SURVIVAL
https://www.actionnewsnow.com/content/n ... 85411.html

Paradise lost: What the West can learn from the Camp Fire
https://www.aspendailynews.com/news/paradise-lost-what-the-west-can-learn-from-the-camp/article_fd3d0f52-51d1-11e9-82a9-ffc3502e47c7.html

[Cudedog]

Update April 29, 2019

PBS: "Inside the Megafire", Wednesday, May 8
[This is the anticipated PBS "Nova" program about the Camp Fire check your local tv listings, can also be streamed online - Anne]
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/inside-the-megafire/

FEMA Prepares First Mobile Home Park, Nearly Six Months After the Camp Fire
https://www.kqed.org/news/11742053/fema-prepares-first-mobile-home-park-nearly-six-months-after-the-camp-fire

Camp Fire survivor’s open letter to Butte County
https://www.chicoer.com/2019/04/27/camp-fire-survivors-open-letter-to-butte-county/

Camp Fire Victims Struggle With Psychological Scars that Scorched The Community
https://www.npr.org/2019/04/24/716873131/camp-fire-victims-struggle-with-psychological-scars-that-scorched-the-community

Students Live In Tents, Do Homework Under Flashlights, And Deal Without Textbooks Months After California's Massive Camp Fire
https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/briannasacks/students-displaced-camp-fire

California Towns At Risk From Fires Often Have Few Ways Out
http://www.capradio.org/articles/2019/04/27/california-towns-at-risk-from-fires-often-have-few-ways-out/

Rare ‘toxic cocktail’ from Camp Fire is poisoning Paradise water. It could cost $300 million to fix.
https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/environment/article228969259.html

The Folly of Returning to Paradise
https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2019-04-23/rebuilding-paradise-california-in-a-new-age-of-wildfires

Waste from Camp Fire, millions of tons of it, could end up in Shasta County landfill
The price tag for removing the millions of tons of debris left behind by Butte County's Camp Fire is expected to reach nearly $2 billion
https://www.redding.com/story/news/2019/04/26/waste-debris-camp-fire-wildfire-shasta-county-landfill-calrecycle/3575147002/

PG&E electricity rates could double after more wildfires, report says
https://www.sfchronicle.com/business/article/California-electricity-rates-could-surge-50-13757757.php?psid=1KBKu

[Cudedog]

Just adding this in to this thread, so that everything is in the same place.

_______________________________________________

Well, I watched the Nova "Megafire" program.

Although I had high hopes (the scientific research being done, as presented in the program, I found particularly interesting), overall I found the program incomplete, too brief, simplistic, and ultimately disappointing.

Why do I feel this way?

The three major California fires referenced in this program - the Camp Fire, the Tubbs Fire, and the Carr Fire - started, and mostly burned, in chaparral scrub land, and not in "forests" per se (tall conifer forests, as defined by the program).

Although I might have missed it, I don't think I heard the word "chaparral" mentioned even once. Dense, uncontrolled growth of chaparral here is one of the primary reasons California fires are so destructive.

Remember the bit in the program about the massive "fire tornado" they showed whirling around in the Carr Fire (Redding, Ca.)? That wasn't tall forest conifers burning, that was chaparral (I live fairly near Redding, so know it well). Redding isn't in the mountains (conifer tree country), it is in the Central Valley (chaparral country).

I am putting a bit of what I wrote on the "Fire Near Anne" thread (this part is from page 7 of that thread) below my signature, should anyone be interested. I talk a little bit about our weather here, and California's problem with chaparral. One thing that was mentioned (again, in reference to conifer forests) was that thinning must be done frequently for it to be effective. Because thinned and cleared areas just sprout new vegetation.

This continual "thinning" needs also to be done with chaparral scrub lands. The problem being, chaparral is much more difficult to thin, grows back much more quickly than do conifers (so needs to be "thinned" more frequently), and - and this is the main kicker - "thinned" chaparral has no economic value for resale. Whereas conifers, even quite small ones (think treated fence posts), can be cut as part of a thinning process, and then sold.

Can I see the logging companies here lining up to get their permits to "thin" tall-tree conifer forests? Absolutely. Can I see the same companies lining up to get out there and thin the chaparral? Never happen.

So long as one major causal element of the California wildfire problem is ignored (chaparral), it is highly unlikely that any real solution will ever be found.

Just my 2cents.

Anne

[Cudedog]

Latest links, 05/12/19

6 MONTHS AFTER THE CAMP FIRE: PROPERTY FEES REMAIN DESPITE DESTRUCTION Property owners in Concow say they're frustrated
they have to pay fees to a property owner's association in an unliveable community.
https://www.actionnewsnow.com/content/news/Property-fees-remain-despite-Camp-Fire-destruction-509658741.html

6 Months After Paradise Burned, Trauma Endures For Kids And Adults
https://www.npr.org/2019/05/11/721834022/6-months-after-paradise-burned-trauma-endures-for-kids-and-adults

Better if the Camp Fire burned down all the way?
https://insurancenewsnet.com/oarticle/better-if-the-camp-fire-burned-down-all-the-way#.XNgg9o5Kh68

Camp Fire survivors face pricey alternatives
https://insurancenewsnet.com/oarticle/camp-fire-survivors-face-pricey-alternatives#.XNgf1Y5Kh68

‘Absurd’ delay in Paradise: Endangered frog species blocking Camp Fire cleanup
https://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/state/california/article230240054.html

Inside the intricate effort to identify every victim of the historic Camp Fire
https://www.sfchronicle.com/california-wildfires/article/The-Camp-Fire-coroner-Inside-the-effort-to-13826177.php

[Irmi]

Anne, that is incredibly sad that these folks have to put up with this. For landlords to take advantage of these situations is just wrong. I feel so sorry for these people and can't even imagine what they're going through. Like one link said, maybe better to burn all the way to the ground. Good grief....