Towns we cover

We launched in Butte County and are adding businesses as we verify them. Fire risk changes a lot from one town to the next here, so each town page explains what drives risk locally.

• Chico

  Chico sits at the edge of the Sacramento Valley where it meets the foothills, and its eastern neighborhoods back onto grassland and oak woodland that carries fire fast on a windy afternoon. Homes near Upper Bidwell Park and along the canyon rim face the most ember exposure, but even flatland neighborhoods saw ember fall during the Camp Fire. Contractors here serve the whole county, so Chico is usually the easiest place to find someone available.

  1 business listed

• Paradise

  Paradise rebuilt under some of the strictest wildfire building standards in California, and most work here happens on homes that are either brand new or being brought up to current code. Because so many lots were cleared, defensible space is more achievable than it once was, though regrowth is fast and ongoing brush work matters. Insurers look closely at Paradise addresses, so documented hardening can make a real difference to what you are offered.

  2 businesses listed

• Magalia

  Magalia is heavily wooded, with homes tucked under dense pine and cedar canopy on narrow roads. Overhanging branches, needle-packed gutters and wooden decks are the common problem areas, and tree work is often the first job homeowners take on. Many properties here are on septic and well with long driveways, which affects both access for crews and how insurers rate the address.

  2 businesses listed

• Oroville

  Oroville spans lakeside slopes, oak foothills and flatter neighborhoods near the valley floor, so fire risk varies a lot from one street to the next. Grass and brush drive fire behavior in much of the area, which makes clearing and Zone 0 work around the house especially valuable. The Thompson Fire in 2024 was a reminder that the hills right above town burn readily.

  1 business listed

• Durham

  Durham is farm country south of Chico, with orchards, pasture and scattered rural homes. The main exposure is dry grass and crop stubble carrying fire toward outbuildings and houses, rather than the timber-driven fire seen up the ridge. Outbuilding separation, vent screening and keeping a clean perimeter are the practical priorities here.

  1 business listed

• Gridley

  Gridley is a valley town surrounded by orchards and rice ground, where fire risk is lower than in the foothills but not absent. Grass fires along roadsides and railroad corridors are the usual concern, and older housing stock often has unscreened vents and wood fencing tight to the house. Hardening work here is generally straightforward and inexpensive compared to ridge properties.

  1 business listed

• Biggs

  Biggs is a small farming community near Gridley with mostly flat terrain and agricultural surroundings. Fire exposure comes from seasonal grass and equipment work in dry fields rather than wildland fuel. Many homes here are older, so vent screening, gutter guards and fence separation are the most common improvements.

  1 business listed

• Palermo

  Palermo sits in the low foothills south of Oroville, with oak, brush and grass running between rural parcels. Long driveways, propane tanks and detached shops are common, all of which matter for both defensible space and insurance. Brush clearing on a regular cycle is usually the single highest-value job in this area.

  1 business listed

• Forest Ranch

  Forest Ranch is a forested community up Highway 32 above Chico, surrounded by timber and steep canyon terrain. Dense canopy, heavy needle cast and limited road access make this one of the higher-risk addresses in the county for insurance purposes. Homeowners here often combine tree work, roof upgrades and ember-resistant venting to make measurable progress.

  1 business listed

• Berry Creek

  Berry Creek was hit hard by the North Complex Fire in 2020, and much of the community is rebuilding on remote, heavily wooded parcels. Access is difficult, water supply is often limited, and insurance is hard to obtain, which makes documented hardening particularly worthwhile. Expect fewer contractors willing to travel this far, so book ahead of the summer rush.

  2 businesses listed

• Concow

  Concow has burned repeatedly, including in both the 2008 fires and the Camp Fire, and remains a remote, sparsely populated area of brush and timber. Properties are spread out with long private roads, so both fire response and contractor access take time. Clearing, ember-resistant vents and metal roofing are the practical starting points for most homes here.

  1 business listed