After the onset of the Camp Fire in Paradise on November 8, 2018, California Water Service (Cal Water), which provides water service to the neighboring cities of Chico and Oroville, offered assistance to the Paradise Irrigation District (PID). Ranked as the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California’s history and the world’s costliest natural disaster in 2018, the Camp Fire raged for 17 days through 153,336 acres causing at least 86 fatalities and destroying more than 18,000 structures.
When the PID requested Cal Water’s assistance in repairing and rebuilding the local water distribution system through a mutual aid agreement facilitated by the California Utilities Emergency Association and California Office of Emergency Services, Cal Water sent teams, resources, and equipment from across the state.
In an online post, Cal Water’s President and Chief Executive Officer Martin A. Kropelnicki said, “We will bring whatever resources are necessary to aid Paradise and help with the relief efforts.”
The Camp Fire had a devastating impact on Cal Water’s family with a number of its employees and retirees from Paradise losing their homes in the fire.
Kropelnicki further expressed in his post, “Our thoughts and prayers remain with everyone impacted by this devastating fire; Cal Water and our employees are committed to supporting the community and are eager to lend a helping hand to their friends and neighbors.”
Following the fire, local crews inspected the damage caused by indirect heat from the Camp Fire, which melted aluminum and tires on equipment located in Cal Water’s yard near the fire.
