Smoke, flood and water damage help for Chico residents

Chico is Butte County's largest city, sitting at about 243 feet on the flat Sacramento Valley floor, with the land rising into foothills at its eastern edge. Big Chico Creek, Little Chico Creek and Lindo Channel, known locally as Sandy Gulch, all flow through town, and Bidwell Park runs roughly five miles from the city center up into the hills.

Fire & Water Energy only makes referrals and owns no equipment. If you phone (866) 937-3230, we'll try to find an independent restoration contractor who serves Chico, but we cannot promise availability. Find more on how it works and in our referral disclosure.

Creeks, valley heat and Sierra foothill wildfire

Chico gets about 27 inches of rain a year, mostly in January and February, while July highs average 94°F and can top 100. January lows near 35°F bring frosty mornings, tule fog settles in during autumn and winter, and on February 19, 2026, the city saw its first measurable snow since 1988.

The Camp Fire, which began November 8, 2018, burned about 153,336 acres, destroyed more than 18,000 structures and killed 85 people; Paradise and Concow were nearly wiped out within hours, and the city itself was threatened. Butte County has been named in ten FEMA major disaster declarations since 2000, including wildfire declarations in 2017, 2018 and 2020 and severe winter storm declarations in 2017, 2019, 2023 and 2024.

What causes most indoor water damage in Chico

Cold snaps can freeze exposed pipes and hose bibs, while hot summers push air conditioners, evaporative coolers and water heaters to their limits. Long winter rains find weak roofs and clogged gutters, and many rental units mean leaks between apartments are a frequent issue in a city where most households rent.

Water damage restoration here usually begins with stopping the source and pulling out standing water, followed by moisture mapping and drying. The water extraction and structural drying pages describe what contractors commonly do.

Federal disaster declarations that included Butte County

FEMA records show Butte County was included in 10 major disaster declarations for weather or fire events from 2000 through 2026 (5 severe storm, 3 fire, 2 flood, by FEMA incident type). Declarations are made at the county level, so they do not mean every neighborhood in Chico was affected. The most recent:

• 2024 – Severe Winter Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (DR-4769)
• 2023 – Severe Winter Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (DR-4699)
• 2023 – Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (DR-4683)
• 2020 – Wildfires (DR-4558)
• 2019 – Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (DR-4434)
• 2018 – Wildfires (DR-4407)

Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, retrieved 2026-10-10. Counts include major disaster (DR) declarations with hurricane, flood, severe storm, tropical storm, fire, tornado, coastal storm, winter or ice storm, mudslide and dam/levee incident types.

Smoke, ash and fire damage cleanup

The Camp Fire and other foothill fires have shown that smoke can blanket the valley for days. Ash and fine soot get into attics, ducts, carpets and stored belongings even in homes far from the flames, and odors can linger long after the air clears.

A sound plan typically includes HEPA vacuuming, cleaning hard surfaces, replacing filters, cleaning ducts and deodorizing. If your home took direct fire damage, ask about fire damage restoration; for residue alone, soot removal may be enough.

High water along the creeks and Sandy Gulch

Heavy winter storms can quickly raise all three of the city's waterways, and properties near them should watch rising water carefully. Water that comes in from outside, or backs up through drains, should be treated as contaminated.

Flood cleanup means extraction, removing wet drywall and insulation, disinfecting and drying. Where wind tears roofing or drops branches, storm damage cleanup handles tarping and debris.

Damp winters and mold growth

Fog and steady winter rain can keep crawl spaces and closets damp for weeks. Mold can appear within 24 to 48 hours on wet drywall, wood or carpet backing.

EPA guidance says a homeowner can often handle mold covering less than about 10 square feet. For bigger areas, or growth after floodwater, consider mold remediation with containment.

Chico safety basics

• Call 911 for fire, injuries, gas leaks or downed lines.
• Sign up for Butte County's emergency mass notifications through the Office of Emergency Management, which also posts wildfire and evacuation guidance.
• Keep an evacuation bag ready during fire season, and leave when told to go.
• Keep a running inventory, with pictures, of everything that got wet, scorched or smoky.
• Check with your insurer or agent; coverage depends on your policy.

Neighborhoods and nearby communities

Areas in and around Chico that callers often mention include:

• Downtown
• South Campus
• Barber

Nearby communities with their own pages (straight-line distance from Chico):

• Redding · 66 mi
• Roseville · 74 mi
• Citrus Heights · 77 mi
• Folsom · 81 mi
• Sacramento · 81 mi
• Arden-Arcade · 82 mi

Restoration guides

• Smoke Damage Cleanup
• Soot Removal
• Fire Damage Restoration
• Water Extraction
• Flood Cleanup
• Mold Remediation

Local resources for Chico residents

• Butte County Office of Emergency Management

Sources

• Wikipedia: Chico, California
• Wikipedia: Camp Fire (2018)
• Butte County OEM

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