At FEMA’s local assistance center in Santa Rosa, California, which just opened last week, architect volunteers explain the process of rebuilding (and negotiating with insurers) to people who have never built a home before. “We’re going to have a separate ‘speed dating’ event for those whose original architect isn’t available, so they can get their plans sooner than later,” says Julia Donoho, chair of the AIA Redwood Empire’s Firestorm Recovery Committee, which was first formed in response to the 2015 Valley Fire in nearby Lake County.
In a state that is accustomed to wildfires, the recent blazes in Northern California have been shockingly destructive, causing 42 fatalities and obliterating a record-shattering number of properties. In the mid-sized city of Santa Rosa alone, an estimated 2,800 properties were destroyed, including entire neighborhoods, schools, and commercial buildings, along with a rare 1899 round barn. Collectively, fires across eight counties have claimed an estimated 7,500 properties. The bulk of the losses have been in Sonoma County; a reported 600 properties were destroyed in neighboring Napa County.
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