A distinct line shows the edge of the Park Fire. (Image: Kathryn Reed)

People were clearly eager to return to Upper Bidwell Park after access was closed when the Park Fire started July 24.

Essentially the lower part of Upper Park opened Aug. 16. I cycled there a day later.

It’s always so sad to see such natural wonders ruined. Of course the land will come back. Mother Nature has a way of being resilient. What I saw wasn’t even the worst of the fire. People aren’t allowed in that section of the park; and there is no date when we will be.

Trees along Upper Park Road in Chico are singed. (Image: Kathryn Reed)

This is what Chico Velo, the local bike club, posted on Instagram on opening day:

“It’s a pretty good day for Chico- Upper Bidwell Park has been partially reopened, thanks in part to the collaboration between the @cityofchicoca and our Trailworks leadership team!

Trailworks played a vital role in the initial trail inventory, hazard assessment, and sign deployment. With combined community efforts, Trailworks also commissioned the refined Park map of the burned and unburned areas. Totaling at about 60 volunteer hours (with short notice), Trailworks’ crew leaders were able to provide the city the necessary information to allow access back into the park.

There is still a LOT of work to do, especially upstream of Bear Hole where fire severity was high. Trailworks will continue to support the City’s restoration and maintenance of our beautiful Upper Bidwell.

How can you help the restoration of Upper Bidwell Park? Sign up for volunteer days (don’t miss out on the unique opportunity to join in post-fire recovery ecosystems)

Donate to our Park Fire Restoration Fund with Golden Valley Bank (link in our bio!).

Stay in touch, stay involved! THANK YOU for your cooperation of accessible areas in Bidwell park. Remember- fire damage is more than the immediate scorch marks. The loss of vegetation increases the chances for erosion during the wet season, causing landslides and debris flow in the creek. Let the park heal properly and please don’t recreate in the closed areas.”

Flames the first night of the fire from Highway 32, with California Park neighborhood lights on the bottom left. (Image: Kathryn Reed)

So many people, entities and agencies are involved during and after a fire. It really does take a village for recovery to happen.

It had been a nerve-wracking couple of days when the fire first started because of how close it was to our house. Winds blowing from the south saved us.

So many others were not as fortunate. As of Aug. 20, the fire had consumed 429,401 acres, destroyed 637 structures, damaged 49 others, and was 55 percent contained.

On Aug. 18 mom and I drove up Highway 32 to the turn off for Butte Meadows to see more of the fire damage. It was gut wrenching. The entire Big Chico Creek watershed appears to be blackened.

We could tell it had been a valiant effort to keep the fire from crossing the highway. We saw where a couple small spot fires had damaged the other side of the road, though I had read that farther up there had been a couple hundred acre slop over.

More telling will be driving toward Lassen National Park in the future. It is now partially reopened, though there are still road closures and structures threatened.

There are so many aspects of this fire, and most blazes, that are sad. But particularly unconscionable about this inferno is how it started.

As CalFire said, “As the fire was starting, an unknown male was seen pushing a car that was on fire into a gully near Alligator Hole in Upper Bidwell Park. The car went approximately 60 feet down an embankment near Chico Creek, burning completely and spreading the flames that became the Park Fire.”

Ronnie Dean Stout II, 42, was being held without bail in the Butte County Jail on arson charges awaiting his Aug. 22 arraignment. This isn’t his first run in with the law. Lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14 and robbery with great bodily injury are part of his record. I’m not sure there is punishment harsh enough for him.