Ron Howard making documentary about Paradise firestorm and climate change

Ron Howard is photographed at the 'Inferno' film premiere on Oct. 25, 2016 in Los Angeles. Ron Howard is photographed at the 'Inferno' film premiere on Oct. 25, 2016 in Los Angeles. Photo: Buckner/Rex Shutterstock, TNS Photo: Buckner/Rex Shutterstock, TNS Image 1 of / 42 Caption Close Ron Howard making documentary about Paradise firestorm and climate change 1 / 42 Back to Gallery

Acclaimed director Ron Howard is making a documentary about a small Northern California community impacted by last year's devastating Camp Fire, National Geographic Documentary Films said Thursday.

National Geographic is collaborating with Howard's Imagine Documentaries company to produce the film, which will "follow the refugees of Paradise ... whose lives are forever scorched by tragedy," a press release said.

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The Camp Fire ravaged Paradise — a town in the Sierra Nevada Foothills — in November 2018, destroying over 14,000 homes, killing 88 people and displacing more than 50,000 people.

The documentary, the press release said, will follow Paradise residents over the course of a year as "they come together to rebuild" and will serve as "a microcosmic look at the growing global repercussions of climate change."

Howard visited Paradise in December, where he reportedly interviewed residents and firefighters, toured the damage, and met with elementary school children. The filmmaker also has family living nearby.

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"The people of Paradise lost everything in the blink of an eye," Howard said in a statement. "The way in which the citizens are coming together to rebuild is beautiful and hopeful — but no one should have to live through this. Theirs is a cautionary tale about the impending effects of climate change and what it takes to restore the communities ravaged by it. Paradise could be any of us."

Read Michelle Robertson's latest stories and send her news tips at mrobertson@sfchronicle.com.

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