by Yucheng Tang
posted Dec. 11
Smoke, smoldering flames, and the smells are still there.
The windows are gone. The roof and backside of the mansion are gone. Most of the pink paint on the exterior wall is gone.
And a landmark of Chico is gone.
A fire that happened in the early morning today destroyed the iconic Bidwell Mansion. Chico’s new mayor, Kasey Reynolds, called the early morning fire a “devastating loss” for the city.
“The City of Chico Fire Marshall is working directly with State Parks and state investigators to determine the cause of the fire,” Reynolds said in a statement released by the City of Chico this morning. “As we recover from the loss of our iconic Bidwell Mansion, we’ll continue to rely on the strength of our community to move forward.”