CHICO – The historic Bidwell Mansion in Chico, California went up in flames early Wednesday morning, destroying the building.
Firefighters responded to the scene at Bidwell Mansion State Historic Park just after 3:30 a.m., according to Action News Now.
Flames engulfed the unique Victorian home and appeared to have consumed the entire building.
Chico Mayor Kasey Reynolds called the loss of the historic mansion a devastating loss for the city in a statement.
“Our firefighters, both on and off duty, gave it their all on this fire,” Reynolds said. “As we recover from the loss of our iconic Bidwell Mansion, we will continue to rely on the power of our community to move forward.”
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It is not yet known exactly what caused the fire.
The historic mansion, originally built in the 1860s, underwent renovation work that began in spring 2024 and is temporarily closed to visitors. The work is expected to be completed by the end of the year, according to California State Parks.
Bidwell Mansion was home to Chico founder and California pioneer John Bidwell. The 1934 film “The Thin Man” starring William Powell filmed several scenes at the mansion.
