By now, the state should be facing the arrival of its annual rains, but this first flush never came, leaving the land parched and primed for fires.ĭrought was not the sole cause of these megafires. These two “megafires” - the term for when a wildfire spreads across 100,000 acres - took many by surprise because they struck in November, which is typically a cooling off period for California’s wildfire season. The Paradise Little League has had so much interest it’s warned parents that kids may be turned away next year.“We’re actually at an all-time low for number of fires,” but megafires are increasing in frequency. Samuel Walker is still the pastor of Paradise Baptist Church, now living with his family in nearby Magalia.īefore the fire, Paradise was viewed as a retirement community with mostly older residents. She is on the board of directors for a parent support group called Mom’s on the Ridge. I’ve only felt love and welcome from literally every single person I’ve met.”Īpril Kelly, who hails from Paradise and Maui, is now the general manager at Nic’s. “There’s a humility and a resilience here that I don’t think would be in a town like this had they not gone through the fire,” he said. They play Little League baseball and perform in the local theater. Thompson said his family was quickly accepted. But newcomers face a daunting question: How do you assimilate into a community defined by a shared tragedy? If the town is to grow, it needs new people. In 2021, they moved to Magalia, just outside of Paradise. After the pandemic, Thompson and his family were looking for a quiet community in the foothills to raise their family. That sometimes includes Adam Thompson, who is not from Paradise. The best time to go to Nic’s is for “Wine room Wednesdays,” when lots of locals stop by for a drink and a hug. “I wanted a place where everybody could come and feel comfortable and feel normal.” “Everybody reacts to whatever tragedy there is - and we all have them - but my way has always been to jump in. Jason Pieper hugs Kathy Desert at Nic’s Deli & Wine Bar, Wednesday, Oct. Within a year, she opened a restaurant called Nic’s, what she said is the first new business to open in Paradise after the fire. Within 30 days of the fire, she was able to buy a building. She started by calling her insurance companies. With a background in accounting she knew what to do. Both burned in the fire, along with her home.Īfter the fire, there was no time for rest or reflection. She opened two businesses: a candle shop and a women’s clothing store. The town quickly became much more than that. She called it a “fluke,” a place to retire with her husband. Jones first came to Paradise 25 years ago. That will help Nicki Jones’ restaurant, a deli and wine bar called Nic’s. Town leaders plan to begin installing a sewer system next summer for the business district, which would allow more restaurants to operate. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)īusinesses are returning to Paradise, with recent openings of a Big Lots and Ross Dress for Less sending ripples of excitement through town. I’m going to stop being angry and get back to what you have me here to do,’” Walker said.Ī worker installs siding on a new home on Wednesday, Oct. to say, ‘OK Lord, I’m going to let this go. In the hospital, he immediately thought of a Bible verse from the New Testament that says: “The Lord disciplines everyone he loves.” Walker injured his arm after a fall while taking out the trash. He finally found peace after a trip to the hospital, of all places. “How am I going to minister to a congregation with all of these people with all of their issues, if I’m still trying to get through mine?” Walker asked. For a pastor, being mad at God is a bigger problem than most. He was angry about his situation, everything that had happened and all of the people who had died or been hurt. The Camp Fire killed 85 people and destroyed about 11,000 homes on Nov. Five years after California’s deadliest wildfire, the Sierra Nevada foothills town of Paradise is returning to life with new homes and people.
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