Should This Town Rebuild?

For the next 17 days, thousands of firefighters tried frantically to control the flames. By the time it was over, the fire had killed 85 people and destroyed more than 18,000 buildings. Homes, schools, businesses—all burned to the ground.

Now, a year after the flames took over their town, residents have begun to return. Many of them have vowed to rebuild, to restart their lives, to move forward in Paradise.

But thousands of others are considering leaving town for good, terrified of having to outrun another blaze. After all, wildfires are common in California, and Paradise has narrowly escaped ruin many times before. In 2008, for example, nearly 10,000 people were forced to evacuate after a major fire erupted nearby. It’s only a matter of time, experts say, before the flames return.

That’s left many people wondering whether Paradise can be rebuilt to withstand the next, inevitable fire—and whether residents should stick around long enough to find out.

“If people are going to rebuild, they need to be better prepared for next time,” says David Peterson, a professor of forest biology at the University of Washington. “Because there will be a next fire.”

For the next 17 days, thousands of firefighters struggled to control the flames. By the time it was over, the fire had killed 85 people. It also had destroyed more than 18,000 buildings. Homes, schools, and businesses had all burned to the ground.

It’s now a year after the flames took over the town. Residents have begun to return. Many of them have promised to rebuild, to restart their lives, to move forward in Paradise.

But thousands of others are thinking of leaving town for good. They are terrified of having to outrun another blaze. After all, wildfires are common in California. Paradise has barely escaped ruin many times before. In 2008, for example, nearly 10,000 people were forced to leave after a major fire erupted nearby. It is only a matter of time, experts say, before the flames return.

That has left many people wondering whether Paradise can be rebuilt to survive the next, inevitable fire. They also wonder if residents should stick around long enough to find out.

“If people are going to rebuild, they need to be better prepared for next time,” says David Peterson. He is a professor of forest biology at the University of Washington. “Because there will be a next fire.”

Wildfires have long been a fact of life across the American West. And they provide several benefits to the environment. Wildfires clear brush from forest floors. They also deposit nutrients in the soil so new trees can grow. Without occasional fires, scientists say, fewer plants would take root. Certain animals would die out. Biodiversity would decline.

But in recent years, wildfires have gotten bigger, deadlier, and more destructive. Ten of the 20 most destructive fires in California history have taken place in the past four years.

Many experts say a key reason is climate change. Worldwide, the past five years have been the hottest on record. As the average global temperature increases, droughts are lasting longer. Sea levels are rising. Storms are becoming more powerful.

High temperatures, strong winds, and a lack of rainfall create the perfect conditions for wildfires. This includes dried-out leaves, pine needles, and other debris. Then all that is needed is something to start the flames.

In the case of the fire in Paradise, sparks from an electrical wire ignited dry grass on a remote hillside in the town of Pulga. Pulga is located about 10 miles from Paradise. Within days, more than 150,000 acres had burned. The total cost of the damage is an estimated $16.5 billion.

In addition to environmental factors, experts say that in recent years more and more people have been putting themselves at risk by building homes in areas that are prone to wildfires, such as forests or grasslands. Many people are attracted to such places because it costs less to live there than in cities. Others want to be closer to the beauty of nature.

In California, more than half the state—25 million acres—is considered to be under very high or extreme threat from wildfires. That vast area is home to 11 million people—about a quarter of the state’s population. In fact, wildfires were raging in California as this issue went to press.

That’s why preparing for a disaster is so important. For one thing, experts say, many at-risk towns need more-efficient evacuation routes and better alert systems.

In Paradise, for example, only 6,200 of the town’s 27,000 residents—less than 25 percent—received official warnings of the advancing fire. Thousands of people hadn’t signed up for the alerts, and many of those who had signed up never received them.

Officials also encourage residents to build their homes and fences using concrete, stone, or brick. Those materials are less likely to burn than wood. They also suggest planting only certain types of vegetation that won’t easily dry out. In addition, gutters, porches, and yards should be kept clear of leaves and branches that may catch fire, they say.

Such measures may sound simple, but they can be expensive. Some people, especially the elderly, don’t have the physical ability to regularly clear brush from their yards—or enough money to pay someone to do it for them. Others can’t afford cell phones or internet access to get early warnings, or cars to flee town.

In addition to environmental factors, experts say that in recent years more and more people have been putting themselves at risk by building homes in areas that are likely to have wildfires. These include areas such as forests or grasslands. Many people are attracted to such places because it costs less to live there than in cities. Others want to be closer to the beauty of nature.

In California, more than half the state—25 million acres—is considered to be under very high or extreme threat from wildfires. That vast area is home to 11 million people, which is about a quarter of the state’s population. In fact, wildfires were raging in California as this issue went to press.

That is why preparing for a disaster is so important. For one thing, experts say, many at-risk towns need more-efficient evacuation routes and better alert systems.

In Paradise, for example, only 6,200 of the town’s 27,000 residents—less than 25 percent—received official warnings of the approaching fire. Thousands of people had not signed up for the alerts. Many of those who had signed up never got them.

Officials also encourage residents to build their homes and fences using concrete, stone, or brick. Those materials are less likely to burn than wood. They also suggest planting only certain types of vegetation that will not easily dry out. In addition, gutters, porches, and yards should be kept clear of leaves and branches that may catch fire, they say.

Such measures may sound simple, but they can be expensive. Some people, especially the elderly, are not physically able to regularly clear brush from their yards. Some do not have enough money to pay someone to do it for them. Others cannot afford cell phones or internet access to get early warnings, or cars to flee town.

With that in mind, some people say state and local governments should do more to ensure that residents are safe. That could include helping to cover the costs of removing trees from people’s property. It could also include putting limits on where homes can be built and what construction materials can be used.

Many Americans have long rejected the idea of government officials telling them what they can and cannot do. That is especially true when it comes to their private property. Yet today there is evidence that some of those people may accept certain regulations if such rules would protect them from wildfires.

A recent poll by the University of California, Berkeley, found that three-quarters of Californians believe the state should prevent people from building homes in risky areas.

“There definitely needs to be a balance,” says Josh Fisher. He is a firefighter who has spent more than 20 years battling wildfires in California. That includes the one in Paradise, where he has lived all his life. “We need to keep people safe but also respect their individual rights.”

Some experts suggest that state and local governments offer money or other incentives for people to rebuild in safer areas. After all, they say, choosing to stay put could have deadly results—for homeowners and firefighters.

Fisher, for one, is hopeful that his neighbors will learn from what happened in Paradise and take steps to protect themselves. “No one wants to go through that again,” he says.

Indeed, several changes are already in the works in Paradise. Homeowners have started to rebuild using materials that are more resistant to fire. Local officials are asking for residents’ ideas for new regulations. And all over town, construction crews are hard at work removing dead trees and branches and other potential fire hazards. The work is funded in part by the state.

That is encouraging to longtime Paradise residents, including Holly Fisher, Josh’s wife. Holly and their two children were able to make it out of Paradise before the flames leveled their neighborhood. Although their house survived, they have not yet been able to move back in. The water in town is contaminated with chemicals from the fire. Still, despite everything they have been through, says Holly, Paradise is their home. They are determined to return.

“My hope is that people come back and that they’ll want to live here again,” she says. “It’s going to be a long road, but I know it’ll be a beautiful place. I can already see that it’s being rebuilt stronger and smarter.”