By Madeline Ramirez, CONTRIBUTOR
As California faces wildfires across the state, there is a light that is shining directly on the victims of Paradise, Calif. on the one-year anniversary of the Camp Fire. The Camp Fire was caused by high winds which eventually led to the power lines creating sparks which burned the whole town.
It is the beginning of fire season in California, and the victims of the Camp Fire are forced to live through the horrendous memories that wiped out their homes and that took out their most prized-possessions.
On Nov. 8, the city of Paradise, Calif. recognized the tragic events of the wildfires that had ruined the lives of many. The Camp Fire had started in the small town of Pulga and eventually grew.
The small town of Paradise had a population of a little over 26,000 people as of 2017. The Camp Fire that occurred just one year ago had wiped out 95% of the city leaving only a small percentage of homes, stores, and gas stations available. Of the roughly 11,000 houses that were lost, only eleven have since been rebuilt, according to NPR.
The Rice family, being one of the many victims of the fires, has spoken out about losing their home in the destructive event.
“The clean up process of Paradise has been one long one,” victim LeAnn Rice states. “We have always been a tight knit community, but since the fire, we are closer than ever before.”
As the one year anniversary of the fire comes to a close, the Rice family has faced some serious life changes, but nothing that no one can handle.
“Both of our son’s homes burned in the fire in Paradise. They have both bought homes in neighboring towns,” Rice said.
The Rice family had altered their way of living, and it is unfortunate to know that the fire has had that effect on 95% of the town. It is not uncommon for the town residents to do much of their activities in neighboring towns due to the destruction from the fire. The Northern California community has developed a strong sense of unity after surviving the state’s most dangerous fire, and hopefully, they will be able to move forward with rebuilding their homes as well as their lives.