The Chico Fire Department responds to the scene on Dec. 11. Photo courtesy of the Chico Fire Department

CHICO, CA (MPG) - At approximately 3 a.m. Dec. 11, a fire broke out at Bidwell Mansion State Historic Park in Chico that nearly burnt the entire structure to the ground.

“(The fire) severely damaged the mansions structure, Chico Fire Department responded and worked to save what remains of the historic building,” said Matt Teague, California State Parks District Superintendent, during a Dec. 11 press conference.

At that time, the incident was still under investigation and there was no damage reported to any of the surrounding structures. Bystanders who noted the scaffolding were informed that the mansion itself had been undergoing a very large exterior renovation.

“We were doing major restoration to the roof, the exterior stucco and the balconies,” said Teague. “Unfortunately, the timing of this fire, we were about two thirds complete into the project.”

According to Teague, this was the first major renovation project on the building in 30 years. He added that he was  shocked, especially considering how closely involved he had been on the restoration project. Following restorations, organizers expected to reopen the mansion to the public next year in the spring; however, that timeline is now null.

As for the interior collections, Teague estimated that only 10 percent of the items in the mansion were original artifacts; the rest were replicas. Of that 10 percent, a portion had already been removed for safekeeping during the renovations, however, a piano and an original self-portrait painting that belonged to John and Annie Bidwell are among some of the most significant pieces that may have fallen victim to the fire.

On Dec. 17, another press conference was held to update the public on the mansion's current standing. There, Aaron Wright, chief of the Northern Butte District of California, said that investigators had “clear indicators of arson” and that they felt confident in classifying this as an intentional fire.

“It's horrible,” said Wright. “I have a 9-year-old son who, because of all the disasters in Butte County, isn't going to get to see the mansion. We’ve talked for years about taking him up to the tower to get to see this, where his dad works, and now he’ll never have that opportunity. “

Wright and his colleagues gave no other information in regard to the ongoing investigation during the press conference. The investigation is still ongoing, and authorities have asked the public to submit any leads or reports of relevant information in regard to the fire to calfire.evidence.com/axon/community-request/public/bidwell.

A firefighter tries to extinguish the blaze on Dec. 11 at the Bidwell Mansion. Photo courtesy of the Chico Fire Department

History of Bidwell Mansion

The Bidwell Mansion, built between 1865 and 1868, served as the home of John Bidwell and his wife Annie Bidwell. The couple had significant cultural and political influence in California, including the establishment of Rancho Chico, a successful agricultural operation that experimented with key crops and helped shape California’s agriculture industry. John Bidwell was an early settler who arrived in California with the first wagon trains in 1841 and Annie Bidwell was a leader in the women's suffrage movement and a strong advocate for Native American rights and temperance.

The two were deeply committed to philanthropy and donated large parcels to be used by the local public for schools and recreation such as the establishment Bidwell Park. Their home, Bidwell Mansion, located at 525 Esplanade in Chico, hosted many prominent guests during the 19th century, including President Rutherford B. Hayes, John Muir, Susan B. Anthony, and other national figures. This three-story Victorian-era structure was said to be ahead of its time and featured rare luxuries and innovations such as indoor plumbing, gas lighting and central heating.

In 1964, it became part of the California State Park system and since then preservation efforts have worked to ensure that the structure remains a vital resource for educating the public about early California history and the Bidwells’ contributions. The site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.