Mountain Strong:
Surviving the Creek Fire

Mountain Strong: Surviving the Creek Fire began with a deliberate editorial decision: not to focus on how the fire started, but on what happened after it did. When the Creek Fire became the largest single wildfire in California history at the time, we chose to center the documentary on the people left to live with its consequences. Through months of reporting, we followed residents, first responders, business owners, and educators as they navigated loss, uncertainty, and recovery in the aftermath of the disaster.

The storytelling was built around the community itself. From families who lost homes that had been in their families for generations to firefighters protecting their own neighborhoods, the film explored how a single event reshaped an entire region. By focusing on personal experiences instead of statistics, the documentary captured the emotional toll of the fire while revealing the resilience, compassion, and determination that emerged in its wake.

The final act looked toward the future of the Shaver Lake area, examining the challenges of rebuilding homes, restoring forests, and preparing for a new reality in the Sierra. The result was a documentary about recovery as much as disaster, showing how a community chooses to move forward after losing so much. Mountain Strong: Surviving the Creek Fire earned the Northern California Emmy Award for Best News Special (2022-2023).