PARADISE, Calif. — The town of Paradise launched a five-day '5 Year Camp Fire Commemorative Events' to reflect on the fire that claimed the lives of 85 people and destroyed the town.
'Paint Your Paradise' community paint night kicks off Tuesday night from 6 to 8 p.m. night at the town's Terry Ashe Recreation Center in commemoration of the 2018 Camp Fire.
The town's commemorative events wrap up Wednesday with an observation of 85 seconds of silence starting at 11:08 a.m. to remember the 85 residents who did not make it out of the Camp Fire.
Following the moment of silence, Paradise community members will seal a time capsule with meaningful items. They will remain sealed until the Camp Fire's 25th anniversary in 2043.
The events began on Saturday with a pancake breakfast at the Paradise Stronger nonprofit wellness center.
Leading up to the pancake breakfast, survivors of the wildfire met with state and local leaders at the California State Capitol to present them with certificates of gratitude for their advocacy.
"For the past five years we continue to work together with nearly 100 agencies toward a common vision; to develop a healthy, thriving region through a collective purpose, to unite community partners so together we can strengthen and align every unique contribution that goes into long-term recovery," said Megan Kurtz, Camp Fire Collaborative board chair.
The Camp Fire leveled about 11,000 homes in the town, displacing most of the 26,000 people who lived there. Five years later, only about 2,400 homes have been rebuilt. More are being built every day. The town now has just under 10,000 people living there.
PG&E pleaded guilty to 84 counts of manslaughter, filed for bankruptcy and announced plans to bury 10,000 miles of power lines. One it its lines sparked the fire. The town has installed warning sirens and is working to create more evacuation routes.
NOV. 2 RECAP: A look at Camp Fire impacts 5 years later
Sunday's event included community daffodil painting with the Paradise Garden Club, Rebuild Paradise, Deja Vu Nursery and Adventist Health—as daffodils are the town's official flower.
The Paradise Performing Arts Center were at the helm of the five-day celebration's main event 'Street Eats & Local Beats' that saw food, musicians and a special performance by Big Mo & The Full Moon Band.
Click here to RSVP for any of the 5 Year Camp Fire Commemorative Events.
The Masonic Temple Association will also host a 5 Year Camp Fire Memorial Wednesday throughout the day starting at 6:30 a.m. at the Table Mountain Masonic Lodge.
GO DEEPER: ABC10's FIRE - POWER - MONEY team obtained 1,500 pieces of photo and video evidence used to convict PG&E of 85 felonies in the Camp Fire, but thousands of pages remain sealed by court order. For nearly three years, ABC10's Fire - Power - Money team has been at the forefront covering California's wildfire crisis, the danger of PG&E's power lines, and how the company avoids accountability.
