The fire burned the entire downtown area bordered by Franklin Street, Redwood Avenue, and McPherson Street. Within 12 months following the earthquake, all downtown reconstruction was completed. The earthquake brought prosperity to Fort Bragg as the mills furnished lumber for the rebuilding of San Francisco.

With its century-plus history as a military garrison and then a gritty lumber town, Fort Bragg skirted under the radar of most Mendocino County visitors for a long time.