In the years following the 2018 Camp Fire, thousands of fire-damaged trees continued to stand on properties throughout the Town of Paradise, creating ongoing risks for homes, driveways, and evacuation routes. Earlier recovery efforts had focused primarily on public rights-of-way, but many hazardous trees on private land remained a serious concern for residents working to rebuild. To address this need, the Town of Paradise launched the Category 4 Tree Removal Program with support from the FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, which funded 75 percent of the project, and a matching grant from CAL FIRE’s California Climate Investments program. The Town partnered with the Butte County Fire Safe Council to manage and implement the program, including parcel assessments, environmental and cultural surveys, contractor coordination, and all tree removal operations.
The first phase of the effort identified nearly 12,000 hazardous trees across more than 500 parcels. Phase two began in June 2025 and was completed in November 2025, bringing focused work to 339 parcels throughout the community. By the end of the project, crews had fully removed 6,385 hazardous trees and performed lop-and-scatter treatment on an additional 2,181 trees, significantly reducing danger around homes and throughout key evacuation corridors.
Warner Enterprises served as the prime contractor for the program and partnered with Northfork Enterprises to guide and manage the work. The project also supported local employment by engaging three ridge-based companies—Mike Goggia Tree Service, Crossfire Tree & Vegetation Services, and All Things Trees—to complete tree removal operations. Equally important, three tribal partners—the Enterprise Rancheria, Mechoopda Indian Tribe of Chico Rancheria, and Mooretown Rancheria—provided cultural monitors who oversaw all work to ensure that sensitive cultural and environmental resources were respected and protected.
The completion of the Category 4 Tree Removal Program marks a major milestone in Paradise’s long-term recovery. Removing fire-damaged and structurally compromised trees has helped improve defensible space, reduce fuel loads, and eliminate immediate safety hazards that could have intensified future wildfires. For residents rebuilding their homes and lives, the work has brought both relief and renewed confidence, ensuring safer properties, clearer evacuation routes, and a landscape better prepared for future challenges. The program also highlights the power of collaboration, demonstrating what can be achieved when local government, nonprofits, tribal partners, and state and federal agencies unite around shared goals for safety, stewardship, and resilience.
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