Friday, November 8th

Paradise community gathers on anniversary of Camp Fire

By ADAM BEAM Associated Press

Mike Greer wipes his eyes during the 85 seconds of silence honoring the 85 people who died in last year's Camp Fire during ceremonies in Paradise, Calif., Friday, Nov. 8, 2019. Friday marks the one year anniversary of the wildfire that nearly destroyed the entire town of Paradise. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

PARADISE, Calif. (AP) - One year after Paradise burned, hundreds of people gathered in the parking lot of a former bank building in the Northern California town to pause for 85 seconds - one for each person who died.

The Rev. Richard Yale moved quietly through the crowd, wearing a blue vest with the words "emotional wellness volunteer" across the back. A man reached out and grabbed his shoulder as he passed by.

"I said, 'How are you doing?' He said: 'I'm alive, thank you.' And that was all he needed," Yale said.

The crowd held onto each other for most of the ceremony on Friday morning. Holding hands, touching shoulders and remembering the terrible day when the most destructive wildfire in California history - dubbed the Camp Fire - swept through their town and destroyed roughly 19,000 buildings.

People gather for ceremonies for the one-year anniversary of the Camp Fire in Paradise, Calif., Friday, Nov. 8, 2019. There was 85 seconds of silence for the 85 people who died in last year's 8wildfire that nearly destroyed the entire town. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

Daynielle Raynor fled her home that day. She went back in December to say goodbye, letting her two children each open a Christmas present in the driveway of their former home. She and her husband sifted through the ashes and, somehow, found her husband's wedding ring.

Now, they live in Arizona. But they came back to Paradise on Friday for closure, she said, especially so their children could see "that the world is bigger than we are, that they are not the only ones affected."

"That's been eye-opening," she said.

In the year since the fire, crews have removed more than 3.66 million tons of debris - twice the amount that was removed from the World Trade Center site following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Twelve homes have been rebuilt so far, and the town is on track to issue 500 building permits by the end of the year.

In this Feb. 8, 2019, file photo, an excavator loads debris onto a truck while clearing a property burned by the Camp Fire in Paradise, Calif. In the year since the fire, crews have removed more than 3.66 million tons of debris, twice the amount that was removed from the World Trade Center site following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. (AP Photo/Noah Berger, File)

In this June 6, 2019, file photo, a graduating senior walks to the graduation ceremony at Paradise High School in Paradise, Calif. Months after most of the students of Paradise High lost their homes when the Camp Fire swept through the area, the seniors gathered one more time at the high school for graduation. Ceremonies will be held in Paradise, Friday, Nov. 8, 2019, to mark the one-year anniversary of the fire, including 85 second of silence to remember the 85 people who died. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File)

Local officials have kept the town's traditions alive to encourage people to come back, including hosting Johnny Appleseed Days in the fall. In the spring, 220 seniors returned to Paradise High School for a graduation ceremony many thought would have been impossible just six months before. And in August, the Paradise High School football team played its first home game - a 42-0 rout that kicked off an undefeated season.

The fire's impacts have been felt far beyond Paradise. State officials say 20,000 people have moved to nearby Chico, boosting that city's population by more than 20% and putting a strain on public services.

Pacific Gas & Electric Corp. - the utility company whose equipment started the fire - filed for bankruptcy in January after facing billions of dollars' worth of potential damage claims.

Artist Jessie Mercer stands near her sculpture of a Phoenix made from more than 12,000 keys that was unveiled in Paradise, Calif., Friday, Nov. 8, 2019. Mercer collected an estimated 18,000 keys from people of Paradise, Calif., who lost homes, businesses cars and other types of locks, in last year's Camp Fire to make the creation. Friday marks the one year anniversary of the wildfire that nearly destroyed the entire town. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

The most poignant reminder of the fire's devastation was unveiled Friday when artist Jessie Mercer displayed a statue made from 12,000 keys donated by Paradise residents. The keys all belonged to things that burned, including homes, safes, jet skis and diaries. Together, they form the shape of a Phoenix, the mythical bird who dies in fire before being reborn from the ashes.

"If that is not Paradise, I don't know what is," Paradise Town Councilwoman Melissa Schuster said.

Hope was mixed with sadness for Myron Curtis. He lived in Paradise for 39 years, raising his children there before moving to Michigan to be closer to his daughter. The fire destroyed his home, photos of his wedding and baby photos of his kids. Friday, he and his wife drove through town and had trouble recognizing the place.

"It's always going to be hard to come back," he said.

But people are coming back. The town's building permit center is so busy the line often stretches outside. Friday, town officials dedicated an 8,000-square-foot (743-square-meter) building they are naming the "Building Resiliency Center," planning to house the city's building permit center and help jumpstart construction for thousands of property owners.

Paradise Mayor Jody Jones said she wants the community to "celebrate the progress we've made and look to the future and what we can become."

"We were never lost," she said.

In this Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019, photo, Laura and Chris Smith display their Paradise tattoos they had done to show support for their former community during a visit to Paradise, Calif. The Smiths are now living in a small apartment in Chico where they say neighbors complain if they shut the door too hard. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

In this Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, photo, Amber Blood looks at a figurine she found in the ashes of her home lost in last year's Camp Fire in Paradise, Calif. Blood is one of the estimated 20,000 former Paradise residents now living in Chico after the fire. A real estate agent, Blood said she even had trouble finding a home after the fire because there was not much available. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

In this Nov. 9, 2018, file photo, a piece of art sits outside the burned remains of a home destroyed by the Camp Fire in Paradise, Calif. In the year since the fire, crews have removed more than 3.66 million tons of debris, twice the amount that was removed from the World Trade Center site following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File)

In this Nov. 8, 2018, file photo, a home burns during a wildfire in Paradise, Calif. Ceremonies will be held in Paradise, Friday, Nov. 8, 2019, to mark the one-year anniversary of the fire, including 85 seconds of silence to remember the 85 people killed. (AP Photo/Noah Berger, File)

In this Thursday, Feb. 7, 2019, file photo, Christina Taft poses with a photo of her mother, Victoria Taft, at the burned-out ruins of the Paradise, Calif., home where her mother died the previous fall. Victoria Taft was one of 85 people who died in the most destructive wildfire in California history. Christina, who now lives in San Jose, said it's been a difficult year and is planning to return to Paradise, Friday, Nov. 8, 2019, for the one-year anniversary of the wildfire that took her mother's life. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File)

Robert Bean pauses after passing flags lining the streets Friday, Nov. 8, 2019 in Paradise, Calif., placed in remembrance of last year's Camp Fire. Friday marks the one year anniversary of the wildfire that nearly destroyed the entire town. Bean's house survived the fire.(AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

Robert Bean pauses at lot where a building was destroyed in last years Camp Fire in Paradise, Calif., Friday, Nov. 8, 2019. Friday marks the one year anniversary of the wildfire that nearly destroyed the entire town. Bean's house survives the fire (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

Roxanne Mulder passes flags lining the streets Friday, Nov. 8, 2019m in Paradise, Calif, that were placed in remembrance of last years Camp Fire, Friday marks the one year anniversary of the wildfire that nearly destroyed the entire town. Mulder's home survived the fire when firefighters used the water in her swimming pool to protect the house. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

A tear rolls down the cheek of Tami Neves, left, during ceremonies of the one year anniversary of the Camp Fire, held in Paradise, Calif., Friday, Nov. 8, 2019. Neves lost her business in the fire and other family members lost their homes (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

Tami Neves closes her eyes during ceremonies of the one year anniversary of the Camp Fire, held in Paradise, Calif., Friday, Nov. 8, 2019. Neves lost her business in the fire and other family members lost their homes. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

Laura Smith, center, holds her head in her hands during the 85 seconds of silence to honor the 85 people who died in last year's Camp Fire during ceremonies in Paradise, Calif., Friday, Nov. 8, 2019. Friday marks the one year anniversary of the wildfire that nearly destroyed the entire town. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

Tami Neves, left, is comforted by her sister, Orah Jones, right, during ceremonies for the one year anniversary of the Camp Fire, held in Paradise, Calif., Friday, Nov. 8, 2019. Neves lost her business and Jones lost her home in the last year's wildfire the nearly destroyed the town of Paradise. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)