Alone on The Ridge: Life in Paradise after the Camp Fire

The Camp Fire took 86 lives and 14,000 homes in a town nicknamed “The Ridge” that sits in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountain range. Thousands of people lost everything and are trying to find ways to start over whether it’s through rebuilding, moving far away or finding a home in a neighboring town. But the Camp Fire also left people and structures behind. About 1 percent of the homes in Paradise remain standing, most of which are reoccupied, said Paradise Mayor Jody Jones. The fire caused over 1,000 businesses to immediately close for months, but the Chamber of Commerce estimates 150 have now reopened.

This story paints a picture of what life is like in a town trying to clean up and rebuild. It has four sections that detail this reality: a couple who live in a mostly-empty neighborhood, a business owner fighting to stay open, a church that has become a community center and Paradise Intermediate’s experience finishing out the school year in an emptied hardware store and plans to return to Paradise next August.

Those left face a struggle against undrinkable water. They fight to get insurance coverage for their homes since almost every major insurance company has stopped reinsuring houses in Paradise. They drive through the charred landscape getting stuck in the construction or losing their way without the familiar landmarks to guide their paths. Everything has changed on The Ridge.