PARADISE, CA - AUGUST 15, 2019 - - Students return to class at Paradise High School months after the Camp Fire ravaged the community in Paradise, California on August 15, 2019. The Camp Fire was the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California history. 84 people died in the fire and two other residents died later of their injuries. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

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Paradise High students return to school

Nearly nine months after a wildfire destroyed much of Paradise, Calif., students returned to public schools this week, a moment many hope will mark the beginning of a rebirth.

Students return to Paradise High School on Thursday for the first day of class since the Camp fire ravaged the community nearly nine months ago. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

PARADISE, CA - AUGUST 15, 2019 - - Vice Principal Jillian Damon, left, greets students with a high five while they return to class at Paradise High School months after the Camp Fire ravaged the community in Paradise, California on August 15, 2019. Principal Jeff Marcus, background, was also on hand to greet the returning students. Marcus retired 4 years ago and came back when the last principal bailed. The Camp Fire was the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California history. 84 people died in the fire and two other residents died later of their injuries. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Vice Principal Jillian Damon greets students with high-fives as they step off the school bus at Paradise High School. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

PARADISE, CA - AUGUST 15, 2019 - - Shannon Moakley, 17, makes her way through the early morning shadows while returning to class at Paradise High School months after the Camp Fire ravaged the community in Paradise, California on August 15, 2019. Moakley, whose family moved to San Antonio, Texas, after the fire, convinced her family to return to Paradise. The Camp Fire was the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California history. 84 people died in the fire and two other residents died later of their injuries. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Shannon Moakley, 17, makes her way through the early morning shadows while returning to class at Paradise High School. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

PARADISE, CA - AUGUST 15, 2019 - - Principal Jeff Marcus, second from left, greets students and a parent on the first day of class at Paradise High School months after the Camp Fire ravaged the community in Paradise, California on August 15, 2019. Marcus retired 4 years ago and came back when the last principal bailed. The Camp Fire was the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California history. 84 people died in the fire and two other residents died later of their injuries. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Principal Jeff Marcus, second from left, agreed to come out of retirement when the high school’s former principal was forced out of town by the Camp fire. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

PARADISE, CA - AUGUST 15, 2019 - - Seniors make their voices heard and show their resilient spirit during a pep rally on the first day of class at Paradise High School months after the Camp Fire ravaged the community in Paradise, California on August 15, 2019. The Camp Fire was the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California history. 84 people died in the fire and two other residents died later of their injuries. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Paradise High School students cheer during a pep rally Thursday morning. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

PARADISE, CA - AUGUST 15, 2019 - - Students attend a pep rally at Paradise High School months after the Camp Fire ravaged the community in Paradise, California on August 15, 2019. The Camp Fire was the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California history. 84 people died in the fire and two other residents died later of their injuries. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Students pack the gym for the pep rally. About 1,500 students attended class Thursday, down from the 3,400 enrolled before the Camp fire. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

PARADISE, CA - AUGUST 15, 2019 - - Cheerleaders welcome a student to a pep rally at Paradise High School months after the Camp Fire ravaged the community in Paradise, California on August 15, 2019. The Camp Fire was the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California history. 84 people died in the fire and two other residents died later of their injuries. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Cheerleaders welcome a student to the pep rally at Paradise High School. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

PARADISE, CA - AUGUST 15, 2019 - - 7th grader Dusti Tuter, 12, facing, hugs a visiting filmmaker at the end of a pep rally at Paradise High School months after the Camp Fire ravaged the community in Paradise, California on August 15, 2019. The Camp Fire was the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California history. 84 people died in the fire and two other residents died later of their injuries. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Seventh-grader Dusti Tuter, facing the camera, hugs a visiting filmmaker at the end of the pep rally at Paradise High School. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

PARADISE, CA - AUGUST 15, 2019 - - Social studies teacher Josh Bullock points to the date 11/8/18 that has remained on the chalk board since the day the Camp Fire began. Students returned to the school for the first time since the fire on August 15, 2019. Bullock talked about the fire with students and said that at the end of the day he would erase the date from the board. The Camp Fire was the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California history. 84 people died in the fire and two other residents died later of their injuries. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Social studies teacher Josh Bullock points to the date, “11/8/18,” that has remained on the whiteboard in his classroom since the day the Camp fire ignited. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

PARADISE, CA - AUGUST 15, 2019 - - Social studies teacher Josh Bullock teaches a full class on the first day of school at Paradise High School on August 15, 2019. This was the first day that students returned to the school after the Camp fire ravaged their community. The Camp Fire was the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California history. 84 people died in the fire and two other residents died later of their injuries. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Social studies teacher Josh Bullock leads a full class on the first day of school at Paradise High. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

PARADISE, CA - AUGUST 15, 2019 - - Students were all smiles during science teacher Wendy Marsters class on the first day of school at Paradise High School on August 15, 2019. This was the first day that students returned to the school after the Camp fire ravaged their community. The Camp Fire was the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California history. 84 people died in the fire and two other residents died later of their injuries. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Students were all smiles during science teacher Wendy Marsters’ class on the first day of school at Paradise High. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

PARADISE, CA - AUGUST 15, 2019 - - Biology and English teacher Ambrosia Krinsky, right, receives a hug from a student as she welcomes students back to Paradise High School months after the Camp Fire ravaged the community in Paradise, California on August 15, 2019. Krinsky gave her students the option of a high five, a hand shake or a hug when they entered her class room. The Camp Fire was the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California history. 84 people died in the fire and two other residents died later of their injuries. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Biology and English teacher Ambrosia Krinsky, right, hugs a student as she welcomes her class back to Paradise High School. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)