California Wildfire Restoration—Camp and Carr Fires

The 2018 California wildfires devastated over 1.8 million acres and claimed 98 lives; in response, the Arbor Day Foundation is collaborating with local groups to plant 3 million fire-resilient trees in the Camp Fire burn scar to support forest recovery and resilience.

June 5, 2020

A man stands in a forest burned by wildfire at sunset, planting a tree.

The magnitude of the 2018 California wildfire season was unprecedented. Extreme loss of life and property due to the Camp and Carr fires was particularly devastating.

Between July and December, an estimated 8,000 fires burned across California, consuming more than 1.8 million acres of forestland. Five fires alone—Carr, Mendocino Complex, Camp, Hill, and Woolsey—combined to destroy more than 22,000 structures. 98 people lost their lives.

The Arbor Day Foundation is working together with the American Forest Foundation and the Department of Agriculture among other local groups, replanting trees on a large-scale in the Camp Fires burn scar of Paradise, California. The forest will never be the same. A necessary mix of tree species are being planted. More fire-resilient, native tree types have been chosen to prevent future destruction. The oak to pine ratio previously was 20 percent oak to 80 percent pine. However, that ratio will likely be reversed for greater forest resilience.

A striking photo of burnt trees, showcasing the aftermath of a fire.

Silhouette of trees on a hill against a red sky.

A man stands in a greenhouse surrounded by green plants.

The remnants of a house devastated by a fire.

A charred landscape of a California mountain forest, showcasing the aftermath of a devastating wildfire.

A picturesque building at sunset, featuring a large glass roof.

A man stands in a forest devastated by a wildfire.

A man planting a small tree at dusk, surrounded by green grass.

A forest filled with trees against a bright blue sky.

A man in a green jacket holds a measuring tape in a snowy landscape.

Overall, the Arbor Day Foundation has made California wildfire recovery a high priority, initially targeting 3,000,000 trees and around 10,000 acres in the Carr, Delta, and Camp fire footprints. Importantly, these forest restoration projects occur on both private and public forestlands serving as an important reminder that forest fires do not adhere to property lines. Fires moving across landscape ownership boundaries creates complexities and opportunities for uncommon collaborations such as the Wildfire Restoration Collaborative.