Talent, Oregon- Five years after the Almeda Fire swept through the city, destroying hundreds of homes and businesses in a matter of hours, Talent has rebuilt much of its residential base at a pace faster than many disaster-struck communities. But city leaders say the road to full recovery remains unfinished, particularly in the downtown and along Highway 99, where vacant lots still mark the fire’s scar.
Medford Alert News talked with Talent City Manager, Alex Campbell, about how the rebuilding process has been.
Since 2020, the city has issued about 350 certificates of occupancy for rebuilt homes and businesses, with another 25 projects holding active permits and roughly a dozen more in early review. All told, nearly 385 rebuilds are either complete or underway—not counting manufactured homes, which remain far behind.
“It’s gone very well in terms of single-family and multi-family residential,” said Alex Campbell, Talent’s city manager. “We are probably ahead of schedule compared to expectations from other major natural disasters. Progress has definitely been slower for commercial rebuilding.”
Housing Recovery Ahead of Pace
Before the fire, Talent counted about 6,600 residents. That number plunged by nearly 1,400 in the immediate aftermath, according to Portland State University estimates, as hundreds of families were displaced. By 2025, the population has climbed back to 6,411—a near-full recovery.
Of the roughly 380 single-family homes and duplexes destroyed, the city has approved 286 rebuilds, representing 300 to 325 units. That’s about 85% of the housing stock recovered on a one-for-one basis.
Multi-family housing, which saw 48 structures lost, has also largely rebounded. With 26 new certificates of occupancy representing up to 140 units—plus denser redevelopment and several greenfield projects—the city believes it has reached full recovery in unit numbers, even if not every lot has been rebuilt.
The story is far different for manufactured homes, a crucial piece of Talent’s affordable housing. An estimated 333 units were destroyed; fewer than 60% have been replaced. New floodplain and development standards mean some sites may never be redeveloped, leaving a gap in the city’s most affordable housing stock.
Commercial Recovery Lags
For businesses, the path has been slower. Data reviewed by the city shows about 61 commercial units were lost, with fewer than half rebuilt.
In downtown, only a handful of properties—including Talent Maker City, the rebuilt 106 Talent Avenue, and the restored Malmren Garage—have returned. Six prime lots where primary structures once stood remain vacant. Overall, the downtown recovery is less than 50% complete.
Along Highway 99, the city has seen successes, such as the rebuilding of Sunday Afternoons’ headquarters, but long stretches of empty land remain.
“The commercial rebuild is clearly further behind,” Campbell said. “We’ve made progress, but there are still major gaps.”
Planning for the Next Chapter
Campbell said the city is not focused on population targets but instead on steering redevelopment in a way that balances recovery with long-term growth.
Priorities include:
Ensuring the final stages of residential rebuilding align with neighborhood character. Reinvigorating the downtown core. Creating a development code for Highway 99 that avoids auto-dominated sprawl.
One of the most significant projects ahead is the redevelopment of the “Gateway” site, a multi-acre property envisioned as a mixed-use hub at the city’s northern entrance.
Even as the city looks forward, scars from the fire remain. Some residents are still displaced, and many low-income families who once lived in manufactured home parks have not returned.
Yet in terms of sheer pace, Campbell said Talent has exceeded expectations at this point.
Here is the link to the Medford Alert News article on the 1-Year Anniversary of the Almeda Fire from September 8, 2021. The article chronicles the events of that fateful day, as they took place. Medford Alert News provided 13 hours of non-stop coverage for the community that day. We also want to take a moment to reflect on the three-lives lost in the Almeda Fire: Derrick Glenn Mills, Donald Schmidt, and Violet Lodbell.
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