Camp Fire Cleanup Completed, 1 Year After The Devastating Blaze

BUTTE COUNTY, CA — Authorities have completed debris removal for the Camp Fire, just after the one-year anniversary of the devastating Nov. 2018 blaze that killed 85 people and destroyed the town of Paradise.

The nine-month cleanup effort took place on nearly 11,000 properties, with crews removing more than 3.66 million tons of ash, debris, metal, concrete and contaminated soil — equivalent to 10 Empire State Buildings, CalRecycle said Tuesday.

The project, undertaken by CalRecycle and the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, was the largest such cleanup in state history. Authorities described it as a necessary first step in the eventual rebuilding of the communities that were damaged by the Camp Fire.

“Today’s announcement marks an important milestone in helping Butte County rebuild and recover," said Cal OES director Mark Ghilarducci.

Fire survivors were given the option to have their properties cleared at no cost. The project also gave short-term housing to nearly 700 households displaced by the fire.