Homeowners who didn't have insurance and who lost everything in the Butte Fire in Calaveras County last year are starting to rebuild with help from volunteers and neighbors.
The Butte Fire destroyed 500 homes and more than 100 of those were uninsured. Many of the families who lost homes are now living on the land in trailers or tents.
Volunteers created Calaveras Recovers to help them, and starting in April will begin rebuilding two houses with donations.
Susan Galvan with Calaveras Recovers says the goal is to construct 85 homes over the next several years.
"We're estimating 70 to 89 thousand dollars in money or materials for each home,” she says. “And then we'll have volunteer labor come in to do the actual building."
According to Galvan, federal and state funds have helped but private donations have come from all over Northern California.
"We need all the help that we can get to help these families who have lost literally everything." Galvan says most of the uninsured are seniors but the group also includes disabled veterans and families with children.
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