On November 8, 2018, the most destructive of these endless mega-fires struck the towns of Paradise, Magalia, Centerville, Concow, Pulga, Butte Creek Canyon, Berry Creek and Yankee Hill, and other nearby towns and cities in Butte County, California. Once again, the fierce easterly winds of each fall’s jet stream took a small blaze started near a PG&E substation on a hill off Camp Creek Road and in five short hours turned it into a wall of fire that destroyed some 240 Sq. Miles and 18000+ structures.
The impact on all of Butte County was profound, 1000s without homes, schools, city buildings, libraries, either destroyed or shuttered. StoryCenter joined with the Meriam Library at CSU Chico, the Butte County Library, and the Paradise Hope Center in gathering stories during the spring and summer of 2019. The project will continue between StoryCenter and our colleagues in the North. Here are samples of the some 20 recordings so far gathered.
