BUTTE COUNTY, Calif. – Representatives from Butte County and town of Paradise will announce receipt of a $475,000 grant from Golden State Finance Authority, or GSFA, to help assist victims of the 2018 Camp fire at the Paradise Ridge Chamber of Commerce Party-in-the-Park on Wednesday, July 31.

The $475,000 grant, comprised of $250,000 allocated to Butte County and $475,000 allocated to the town of Paradise, will be formally recognized by Paradise Ridge Chamber of Commerce Director Monica Nolan during the event intermission as she addresses the community from the gazebo. The Party-in-the-Park is held at Paradise Depot Museum Park, 5570 Black Olive Drive in Paradise.

California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection estimates that over 13,972 residences, 528 commercial and 4,293 other building were destroyed in the Camp fire of 2018, including large portions of the town of Paradise.

The fire, designated as a state and federal disaster, was the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California history and sixth-deadliest U.S. wildfire.

The Camp fire caused at least 85 civilian fatalities, injured 12 civilians and five firefighters and scorched an area of 153,336 acres.

GSFA allocated the disaster assistance to fund incentives to residents whom lost their homes and are rebuilding a comparable or replacement residence within unincorporated communities of Butte County or town of Paradise.

The financial assistance is designated to help these homeowners with rebuilding costs such as development services fees for issuing permits, reviewing plans, conducting inspections, and other related functions associated with regulation of housing construction in the replacement homes.

“GSFA’s generosity towards reducing building permit fees is a wonderful incentive for rebuilding homes within the footprint of the Camp Fire,” said Doug Teeter, Butte County supervisor.

Over the past three years, GSFA has provided over $3.5 million in emergency disaster assistance to address the impact of forest fires on California residents.