CAMP FIRE 2019
Camp Fire recovery continues. Our lives are interrupted by demolition and construction activities and enriched by family and church activities. We are blessed by occasional trips away from Paradise for rest and renewal. Click text highlighted in red for more pictures and stories.
January 1: A day of thanksgiving that nearly two months of trauma after the Camp Fire are behind us. New challenges lie ahead. We move back into our home. Water, gas, and electricity are restored. We begin the plan of restoring our home to the new normal. We have joined a small group of those who fled the fire and are returning to the homes that were spared destruction. Those who have returned are the first pioneers back up the hill to attempt to restore a normal life in homes needing some restoration surrounded by their neighbors' homes that were destroyed.
STM pastor, Fr. Godwin, ministers to STM parishioners and other parishes while residing at St. John's. Later on he is assigned to St. Thomas in Oroville. Fr. Francis at Our Divine Savior (ODS) becomes pastor to STM and celebrates a special weekly 1:00 Mass on Sundays for STM parishioners.
STM operations move from St. John's Newman Center to ODS. Our Divine Savior Parish led by Pastor, Fr. Francis, worked with the ODS Knights Council 13765 under the leadership of Grand Knight, Ed Grens. Ed and his brother Knights jumped into action to help with meals for our parishioners and by sharing their Council’s meeting room with the STM Paradise Council.
January 2: I complete the Annual survey of fraternal activity to Knights of Columbus showing how our council has stayed active despite the fire. Later in the year I accept the Columbian Award for the Council in recognition of our activities during the Camp Fire recovery. I meet another Knight at Chase Bank in Paradise to co-sign his recovery check from Columbian Charities. We set up a meeting with Servpro to survey damages to our home. We also arrange for our gardener to restore our landscaping to what it was before the fire.
January 3: I meet with Steve Zeider from Pasadena to accept a generous donation of tools to St. Thomas More. We begin to fill one of the storage units by the school.
January 6: At the 1:00 Mass at ODS, we accept donated coats from a group from Rancho Murietta.
January 9: Several Knights gather for a photo shoot at St. Thomas More for an article in Columbia Magazine's February issue: Heroism in Paradise (click)
January 10: Servpro begins cleaning smoke damage to the interior and exterior of our home. We take a few days off and stay at a motel.
January 12: STM Steering Committee meets.
January 13: K of C hosts a lunch for STM and ODS parishioners.
January 15: Barbara and I meet with our new primary doctor in Chico. Most Paradise refugees find new doctors since most medical services have closed in Paradise.
January 17: Lou Gervais (past Grand Knight and District Deputy) accepts the Star Council award (2017-2018) for Council 7773 from State Secretary, Dave Abbott. Thanks to Lou's efforts, our Council received this prestigious award.
January 18: Meeks installs new insulation in our attic, a minor issue compared to our neighbors who lost everything.
January 21: Knights from STM and ODS councils joined forces to set up, serve, and clean up the spaghetti dinner for our St. Thomas More Parishioners.
January 25: Direct TV installs a dish to bring television access back to our home.
January 31: Forty-seven thank you notes went out in January to friends, relatives, church communities, Knights of Columbus councils, assemblies, and chapters.
February 1: Deacon Ray resigns as chaplain from K of C:
Greetings my brother Knights, It is with regrets that I must resign from my position as Chaplain for the council. Because of the ongoing issue of recovery from the fire, and all that entails, along with the responsibilities I have with St. Thomas More in working through the recovery for our parishioners, as well as my work in the same regard with the Diocese of Sacramento, I am not able to do justice to the position and the attention it deserves. Sincerely in Christ, Deacon Ray
February 1: Status Report from Heroism in Paradise article:
Today, ash is all that remains of approximately 19,000 buildings, including the homes of 69 Knights, in Paradise, Calif. At least 86 people lost their lives and 90 percent of the town’s residences were razed in the state’s deadliest and most destructive wildfire. Dubbed the Camp Fire, because it began on Camp Creek Road in Butte County, the blaze burned for two weeks, scorching over 150,000 acres. Knights around the country responded, sending supplies as well as donating more than $200,000 to assist in the recovery.
February 3: STM Knights provide Parish Potluck at ODS.
February 5: Snow covers our home as well as the ashes and ruins of Paradise bringing hope for better days ahead.
February 8: STM Knights dedicated kitchen crew with Liz Fierro pose between dinner preparations.
February 16-17: STM Knights attend the rosary and funeral of Brother Knight Toom deBettencourt's wife, Nonie, at ODS.
February 21: K of C Admission degree. ODS brother Knights shared most of their Admission Degree items for our exemplification with help from K of C State Secretary Dave Abbott.
February 25: Jaqueline Gaukel's funeral.
February 27: Culligan installs a benzene filter to enable us to drink Paradise Water District water and to take showers safely. I meet with the K of C emergency fund meeting to provide grants to needy Knights.
March 1: Barbara and I travel to Marysville to read to Maggie's kindergarten class for Read Across America.
March 3: Knights help with Special Olympics event in Chico.
March 8: Knights help with Stations of the Cross at ODS.
March 9: We take time off to celebrate my sister's birthday.
March 14: Oficers Meeting, Rosary, and business meeting at ODS.
March 20: Tom Hegenbart (Knight of Columbus) funeral
March 30: Barbara and I leave Paradise's challenges behind us with a drive to Donner Lake.
April 5: Jim Stark (Knight of Columbus) funeral
April 6: Knights and STM parishioners help at work day at ODS
April 13: St. Bonaventure group joins us at STM pitching in with clean up activities.
April 14: Christian Brothers students join us for a potluck at STM and help with the clean up.
April 21: Milan and Rachel visited from L.A., toured the Paradise ruins, and joined the family for Easter.
April 25: We attend Joe Serembe's (Knight of Columbus) graveside service at Sterling City. Our Knights honor their brother Knight, Joe.
April 27: Barbara and I travel to Ventura for Austin and Ashley's First Communion.
May 2: Our neighbor's lot is cleared of debris. Paradise is buzzing with machinery clearing lots. Most will be completed by November. Comcast sets up internet at our home.
May 4: Knights help with Fiesta (Cinco de Mayo) Dinner at ODS
May 16: Barbara and I attend the K of C convention in San Diego with Lou and Lois.
May 22: Our Knights gather for our May Business Meeting, our first meeting back in Paradise. Our banner and all other items needed for meetings and ceremonies have been replaced thanks to the generosity of other Knights of Columbus councils.
May 27: Knights help set up and take down flags in Paradise Cemetery for Memorial Day.
May 29: Barbara and I leave for Wyatt and Helena's graduation in Texas
June 3: We take a side trip to visit Aunt Marilyn in Gunnison, Colorado. Read inspirational memories at: Marilyn
June 9: Knights award $1,000 scholarship to Paradise High School graduate Karla Garcia
June 11: Fathers McSweeney and Cantwell join K of C State Deputy, Dave Abbott with his wife, Debbie, and Parish Steward, Greg Kidder, in visit to see Paradise and STM parish.
June 13: Admission Degree at St. John's in Chico; new Knight Robert Gomez joined me for a picture after the ceremony.
June 22: Past Grand Knight, Philip John, memorial service.
June 26: Installation of new K of C officers.
June 30: Bishop Jaime Soto celebrates Mass at STM, the first Mass for all parishioners at STM since the fire.
July 21: Knights award $1,000 scholarship to Paradise High School graduate Cesar Rivera.
July 27: Barbara and I attend the Alta Sierra Golf Tournament sponsored by the K of C Grass Valley.
July 28: We celebrate Bill and Lana's 50th Anniversary.
August 3: STM sponsors a retreat with Fr. Tom
August 7: We celebrate our 48th anniversary at Seacliff Beach, Monterey, and Carmel.
August 17: We visit Brother Knight Greg Wright at his double-wide in Los Molinos. The Knights had helped him with the purchase.
August 24: We travel to San Francisco with Joe who had special tickets to the Smucker's suite at Oracle Park to see the Giants.
August 25: Parish Potluck
September 7: Back in Ventura, we join Ellen to celebrate her birthday and enjoy some miniature golf.
September 10: We spend a few nights with family at Lake Almanor. Fishermen were skunked, but we had a good time.
September 15: Healing Mass and dinner with Knights of Malta
September 21: Roy Stanton (Knight of Columbus) funeral
October 3: Durham Horse riding competition for Mikayla and Tori.
October 13: Columbus Day Knights of Columbus Dinner. It was a miracle that our Knights could put on a spaghetti dinner without a gas stove and oven. We improvised with outdoor gas burners. The kitchen crew did a fantastic job. Spaghetti was followed by awards announced by Grand Knight, Dave Porter. This was our first fund raiser since the fire. We will share our small profit with Knights of Columbus charities.
October 16: Michael Doyle Funeral and Eulogy
October 19: STM Parish workday
October 21: Knights pick olives for Kitty Campbell. A few weeks later Knights help move her fifth wheel.
October 30: We have lunch while recharging phones and ipads at the PG&E relief center in Magalia. After nearly 10 days without power in the past 30 days, we look for a deal on a whole-house, natural gas generator. After we sign a contract we wait for underground gas lines to be replaced in our neighborhood.
November 3: We celebrate the Camp Fire anniversary on the Sunday before one year anniversary with an ecumenical service and barbecue. We remember those who lost their lives in the fire Deceased Camp Fire Victim list (click), pray with our fellow Christians, ask God's blessing on our efforts to return, and share a meal together.
November 5: We accept a generous donation from the Grass Valley Knights of Columbus who shared the proceeds from their golf tournament to help our council.
November 7: We travel to Yuba City for Carson's latest academic award.
November 8: CAMP FIRE ANNIVERSARY. We reflect on that terrible day and the pray and hope for better days. A television crew interviewed some parishioners for their thoughts and memories. See Fox News story and video (click) This link will take you to the text of the video. You may need to paste the link above the story into your browser to view the video.
November 10: We begin year two of the recovery effort with a two-day trip to Fort Bragg and dinner on the wharf.
November 11: Knights help with Veterans Day Flags
November 12: Behind our fence, a buck shelters in place hiding from the noise and commotion of machinery and tractors replacing underground utilities. Most of Paradise is abuzz with noise from sunrise to sunset with utility workers. Travel is interrupted with frequent stops for machinery and trucks.
November 13: Knights of Columbus meeting
November 22: The Enterprise Record reports that most of the lots in Paradise have been cleared of debris. Nearly one third of those who lost their homes would like to return, except that 60 percent of them were underinsured and might not be able to afford rebuilding costs. Existing homes are overpriced for many. A massive effort to remove over 300,000 trees that were destroyed in the Camp Fire will begin in January. Most trees will be removed within a year.
November 28: Thanksgiving
December 8: We hold a town hall meeting for STM parishioners seeking input on how our parish will grow, recover, and spread the Good News in the Paradise Community:
December 14: STM welcomes local churches by hosting an ecumenical choir gathering:
December 15: Jeff takes Joe and Jim on a flight to Mendocino to celebrate renewing his flight license.
End of year reflections: A year ago we had not been allowed to reoccupy our home. Now we enjoy the warmth of our woodstove and look around us at our home restored inside and outside. The fire also reminds us of the destruction and turmoil of the past year. We await the installation of a whole house generator to deal with random black outs in the New Year.
The neighborhood is still abuzz with trucks, tractors, and disposal equipment clearing the last lot in our neighborhood. RVs have moved back to lots cleared of debris waiting for springtime construction.
Our neighbors who plan to rebuild, have cleared their lot but cannot let go of the hulk of a burned out truck which brings back memories for them of better times and past adventures.
PG & E subcontractors tear up our streets to replace aging power and gas lines. Road blocks are a daily nuisance but bring hope of improved infrastructure, removal of falling trees, and clearing for new constructions.
A few blocks away, there's hope for the New Year as a neighbor is framing a new home despite the cold, the rain and the muddy conditions. The frame stands in stark contrast to the empty lots on the same street.
The first wave of stalwart, pioneering Paradise Camp Fire survivors have returned living in mobile homes in the mud planning for better days. Their resiliency is evident in the Christmas decorations surrounding their improvised lodgings. They refuse to give up and are determined to celebrate the Christmas season.
We pray for better times for all these pioneers in the New Year.
This completes CAMP FIRE coverage to December 2019.
See one final story, Canyon Neighborhood 2020.
See also St Thomas More picture chronology 2018-2020