Paradise Lost: Long-Time Residents Priced out of Fire-Devastated Town

The California community lost 85 lives and tens of thousands of homes. Now, high housing and rebuilding costs are forcing many former residents out.

2 minute read

June 26, 2024, 10:00 AM PDT

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Burned car sits in front of burned house in forest in Paradise, California after the Camp Fire.

The 2018 Camp Fire in Paradise, California was sparked by faulty PG&E equipment. | tomy / Adobe Stock

Five and a half years ago, the town of Paradise, California burned in a devastating wildfire that killed 85 people. Today, many former residents are finding it hard to go home, displaced by deeper-pocketed transplants, wrrites Sam Mauhay-Moore in SF Gate.

“For three years in a row, data from California’s Department of Finance marks Paradise as the fastest-growing town in California. The town grew by 16.1% in 2023 (for reference, Lathrop, the state’s second-fastest-growing town, grew by only 5.4%).” And while that growth only represents 1,500 people, the change is dramatic for the small community.

“[Real estate broker Warren Bullock] puts the median price of a home in Paradise at about $450,000, a stark difference from the state’s median home price of over $900,000. But those prices are still too high for many pre-fire residents to afford, and the cost of rebuilding what they lost is also often out of reach.”

Local ordinances prohibit living in tiny houses or motor homes on residential lots, eliminating affordable housing options. Meanwhile, home insurance rates skyrocketed after the fire, a problem common across the state.

For its part, Paradise is on the road to recovery, repaving roads, undergrounding power lines, and building a new sewer line. The Camp Fire Restoration Project is using permaculture  principles to restore the land in the area and make it more resilient through tree giveaways, composting workshops, soil health projects, and other efforts.

Friday, June 21, 2024 in SF Gate

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Close-up of "Apartment for rent" sign in red text on black background in front of blurred building

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program

Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

April 21, 2025 - Housing Wire

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 23, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Ken Jennings stands in front of Snohomish County Community Transit bus.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series

The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

April 20, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

Yellow electric school bus with preteen students exiting.

California Invests Additional $5M in Electric School Buses

The state wants to electrify all of its school bus fleets by 2035.

April 25 - Associated Press

City Hall building in Austin, Texas.

Austin Launches $2M Homelessness Prevention Fund

A new grant program from the city’s Homeless Strategy Office will fund rental assistance and supportive services.

April 25 - Spectrum Local News

Brick school building with mid-sized tree on front lawn.

Alabama School Forestry Initiative Brings Trees to Schoolyards

Trees can improve physical and mental health for students and commnity members.

April 25 - Governing