T
he Thompson Fire in Oroville, California, has left a trail of destruction. A photo taken on July 3 shows the devastating impact off Bessie Drive. The fire started on Cherokee Road and Thompson Flat Cemetery Road on July 2, quickly growing to over 2,000 acres by day's end. Multiple evacuation orders were issued as the fire spread. By Wednesday morning, it had burned 3,500 acres with no containment.
The Center for California Real Estate hosted a virtual panel on rebuilding after wildfires. Paradise Mayor Steve Crowder shared his experiences from the 2018 Camp Fire, highlighting rising construction costs and insurance challenges. He noted that prices have increased from $175-$200 per square foot to $300-$350, while median home prices in Butte County rose from $250,000 to $460,000.
Crowder emphasized the need for fire-resilient building practices to attract insurance companies back to Paradise. Panelists discussed collaboration among stakeholders and survivors to reduce costs and improve supply chains. Mayor Crowder plans to visit Los Angeles to assist with their recovery efforts.
