In November 2018, the Camp Fire, the most devastating wildfire in California's history, was rapidly spreading through the Sierra Nevada foothills. Within four hours, it destroyed a town of 26,000 people, leaving schools, businesses, and 11,000 homes in ruins. Despite initially thinking the evacuation order was a false alarm, Singer managed to escape just in time as flames approached his yard. The town of Paradise was completely destroyed. Eighty-five individuals lost their lives, and over 90% of the population was forced to leave. Two years later, approximately 4,000 residents have come back to the devastated area to start anew and take their chances once more. Singer is one of those who returned, but now he is reconsidering his decision. In this ecosystem covered in chaparral, rebuilding after a fire has been a customary practice for decades. However, as California, the most populous state in the nation, faces a severe climate crisis with record-breaking temperatures and devastating wildfires, the process of rebuilding is taking on a new form. The state has been dealing with two major crises simultaneously, as wildfires raged during the pandemic. By the end of 2020, over 4.2 million acres had been burned by nearly 10,000 fires. Northern California has been particularly hard hit by megafires, while Southern California, specifically Los Angeles, has become the epicenter of the pandemic with the highest number of confirmed cases and deaths in the country. In California, a historic housing shortage and low interest rates have led to record high home prices. The median cost of a single-family home surpassed $700,000 in August and continued to rise in September. Despite the increasing cost of new homes, many homeowners are facing even higher costs when rebuilding after a fire. Home rebuilds are decreasing throughout the state due to contractor shortages, rental market pressures, and a worsening climate crisis. California, still grappling with an affordable housing crisis, has seen a decline in new construction permits for the past two years following a steady rebound after the 2008 recession. In 2018, new home construction permits peaked at 120,000 before dropping to 110,000 in 2019. Following a devastating wildfire in Malibu, California on December 30, 2020, the rebuilding process is changing as the state faces a growing climate crisis. The California Industry Research Board is expected to release its 2020 construction and permit numbers in February, but estimates indicate that only 103,670 housing units were issued last year. As California grapples with a severe climate crisis that led to intense wildfires last fall, the process of rebuilding is evolving. The California Department of Insurance does not keep track of permits issued for fire-related losses, making it challenging to analyze the impact of wildfires on homebuilding. However, there is a noticeable trend of fewer rebuilds statewide, possibly due to the increasing frequency and severity of fires. More homeowners are now opting to start fresh rather than rebuild, indicating a significant shift in rebuilding decisions. The lack of contractors in the state is causing delays for homeowners trying to rebuild after natural disasters, sometimes leaving them in limbo for several years. Despite expectations of an increase in building permits following events like the Camp Fire, many insurance companies are simply writing big checks to homeowners who then struggle to find contractors available to rebuild their homes in a timely manner. However, in areas where the land is highly valuable, such as Malibu after the Woolsey Fire in 2018, rebuilding efforts are progressing steadily. The entire city was emptied of its residents and 650 of its high-priced homes, including those owned by Miley Cyrus, Gerard Butler, and Robin Thicke, were destroyed. However, today over one-third of those homes have been granted permits to rebuild (in Paradise, the figure is just over 10%). "Rebuilding after a fire is like someone who gets attacked by a shark but still goes back in the water to surf," said Michael Nourmand, president of the Los Angeles real estate firm Nourmand & Associates. "But people in LA have short memories. Most are planning to rebuild." It is easier to rebuild if you have ample financial resources. California implemented strict fire-safe building codes in 2008, which mandate reinforced roofs made of brick, masonry or concrete; walls that can withstand high temperatures; and landscaping free of highly flammable plants. In 2011, the state mandated that all single-family homes must have sprinkler systems installed. This requirement can add over $20,000 to the cost of rebuilding a home constructed before 2008. Those who opt to rebuild may have to rent while they wait, adding strain to a housing market already struggling with high prices and low supply. As a result, the most vulnerable residents in the state are impacted, leading to a 16% increase in homelessness in California in 2019, with over 150,000 residents now experiencing homelessness. Due to the impact of COVID-19, it is anticipated that those figures will increase. James Ryan, the president of Time for Homes, a nonprofit organization focused on eradicating chronic homelessness, explained that when numerous homes are destroyed, people are forced to relocate, causing rental prices to rise. This leads to an increase in the cost of affordable housing and a decrease in housing stability. Governor Gavin Newsom's eviction moratorium, designed to shield tenants from losing their homes due to pandemic-related challenges, is set to expire on February 1. However, some reports indicate that evictions have increased during the pandemic, despite the moratorium. According to Ryan, there are individuals who are falling through the cracks and experiencing forced evictions, leading them to search for alternative housing options. This has resulted in a shortage of available homes, causing a population shift towards California's rural areas. For example, in El Dorado County, east of Sacramento, sales increased by 28% in 2020, while Sacramento experienced a slight decline. The Inland Empire, consisting of Riverside and San Bernardino counties, is experiencing rapid growth and has largely been unaffected by the major wildfires that have impacted other metropolitan areas in California. The COVID-19 pandemic has further fueled this trend, with many families looking to move to more affordable areas such as the Inland Empire. The median home prices in Riverside and San Bernardino counties are significantly lower than in Orange County and Los Angeles County, making the region an attractive option for those looking for job opportunities and a lower cost of living. It is difficult to determine the exact reason for people's movement towards areas like the Inland Empire, Joshua Tree, and Palm Springs. It could be due to a desire for affordability or to escape fire risk. This trend has been happening since around 2010. However, not everyone has the option to move away from fire risk, especially in a state like California that is already experiencing a severe housing shortage. Since the Camp Fire, Singer and his wife, Shannon, have been living in an apartment in Chico, 20 miles away, as they deal with the challenges of rebuilding their home, such as insurance, zoning, and planning. They have also started a nonprofit organization called Paradise Stronger, using their fitness coaching background to provide mental health care to residents affected by the disaster. Initially, they were dedicated to helping with Paradise's recovery plan to rebuild the city with more parks, green space, and improved evacuation routes. However, the 2020 fire season brought new challenges with "megafires" and "hot droughts," along with fire-whipping winds that lead to power shut-offs. In October, the Singers had to evacuate once again, this time with a fire approaching and having already caused damage. Singer, 43, shared that the area where their home would have been was the first to be evacuated this time, and it was filled with smoke. The PTSD was widespread. His wife expressed her doubts about rebuilding and questioned if they should continue living in the same place. Singer recalled her saying, "I'm not sure I want to rebuild. I'm not sure this is where I want to be anymore." He says he is willing to stay in the town and be a part of its vision, but not if it means sacrificing his marriage. The couple has decided to put their rebuild plans on hold for now, but if they do decide to move forward, they will have to spend $100,000 out of pocket for a smaller, more fire-safe home on the same property, with an estimated cost of $250,000. They were paid $145,000 for the building that was destroyed in a fire, but like many American households, they later found out they were not adequately insured. In response to insurers pulling out of high-risk areas, some new developments are implementing resilience measures in fire-prone regions. For example, Rancho Mission Viejo in Southern California is the largest new community in the state, with plans to preserve 75% of its 23,000 acres of open space and provide 14,000 homes, including some specifically for residents over 55. Fire resilience is a fundamental aspect of the construction in the community, which had already implemented numerous wildfire resistance strategies prior to them becoming state and local requirements. A recent report by the Urban Land Institute highlighted the community, as well as the entire town of Paradise, for their efforts in rebuilding after wildfires. Rancho Mission Viejo has established a 110-foot-wide fuel modification zone around each neighborhood, replacing combustible vegetation with fire-resistant plants and prohibiting certain plant species. The construction materials used are noncombustible, and automatic fire sprinklers were mandatory in every home even before California law required them in 2011. The additional cost of fire-safe modifications during construction has become minimal. Initially, these modifications added between $4,000 and $10,000 to the cost of each home, but now the cost has decreased to as low as $1,000. Jay Bullock, vice president for planning and entitlement at Rancho Mission Viejo, explained that these fire-safe methods, once considered radical, are now more common in the market. Mike Balsamo, senior vice president for governmental relations at Rancho Mission Viejo, emphasized the importance of building safely in high fire hazard zones for a sustainable future in a state where livable space is limited. He mentioned that there is a specific strategy to follow for this. "We have the ability to establish a community that is as safe from fires as possible." © 2020 New York Times News Service.