RCRC Chair, Butte County Supervisor Doug Teeter, was in Sacramento on Thursday for an event on the West Steps of the State Capitol, reflecting on the 5-year anniversary of Butte County’s 2018 Camp Fire. Recognized as the “deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California’s history”, with 85 lives lost and “untold residential and commercial structures lost”, participants gathered today to share about recovery efforts and recognize those who played a key role in those efforts.
In the company of Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher, Treasurer Fiona Ma; local Butte County staff, leaders, and heroes; and many others, Chair Teeter spoke of the impact to the counties. He acknowledged that while Paradise is the most widely known area devastated by the Camp Fire, several other communities faced the same danger in the tragedy, and challenges in the recovery including Magalia, Concow, Yankee Hill, Butte Creek Canyon, and Butte Valley. Supervisor Teeter praised Butte County Planning, the staff, and the community of Magalia for the area’s General Plan Update, dubbed the “Upper Ridge Community Plan”, which received a National American Planning Association award. Supervisor Teeter extended gratitude to the staff of Butte County, who provided support for the county and its residents in the face of the devastation and in the recovery efforts, first from the 2018 Camp Fire, followed in 2020 by the North Complex Fire, and then the Dixie Fire in 2021. The event was livestreamed from the capitol steps and can be viewed on YouTube. Chair Teeters comments begin at 24:45 here.
For information about RCRC’s advocacy efforts surrounding wildfire mitigation, contact RCRC Senior Policy Advocate, Staci Heaton.