In November 2018, the Camp Fire devastated Butte County, California, becoming the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in state history. The fire caused 85 fatalities, displaced more than 50,000 residents and destroyed over 18,000 structures, resulting in approximately $16.5 billion in damage. Entire communities, including the town of Paradise, were destroyed, creating an urgent need for rapidly deployable temporary housing.
To support recovery efforts, FEMA engaged MLU Services, a Michael Baker International Company, under its LogHOUSE IDIQ contract to deliver a complete residential community capable of housing hundreds of displaced families while meeting strict federal safety, accessibility and quality standards. Key challenges included an accelerated delivery timeline, large-scale infrastructure development on undeveloped land, coordination of multiple subcontractors and heavy equipment operations, and full compliance with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), environmental and electrical requirements.
The MLU team implemented an innovative, phased deployment strategy that allowed site development and housing installation to occur simultaneously, significantly compressing the schedule and enabling faster occupancy for displaced residents.
The Gridley, California, project began with site assessments, including hazardous materials evaluations, utility coordination and electrical load analysis. MLU then developed detailed design plans incorporating electrical layouts, code compliance and constructability reviews.
Construction included full infrastructure development—electrical distribution, water and sewer systems, roadways, sidewalks, curbs, lighting and signage—while crews concurrently installed manufactured housing units (MHUs). Each unit was delivered fully furnished and move-in ready, complete with bedrooms, bathrooms, living and dining areas, ADA-accessible features, fire suppression systems and full utility connections.
At peak activity, MLU managed 500 personnel, coordinating subcontractors and installation crews while maintaining strict quality and safety standards through daily inspections and ISO-compliant processes. This effort was part of MLU’s broader statewide response, which delivered over 1,500 temporary housing units in 2019. Overall, MLU successfully delivered 400 housing units in approximately 70–80 days. The Gridley Group Site stands as a model for rapid disaster housing deployment. By combining innovative construction sequencing, strong program management and rigorous quality control, MLU delivered a turnkey community under extreme time constraints.