California’s largest wildfire in three years has grown to more than 307,000 acres, an area roughly the size of Los Angeles, and remained 0% contained as of Saturday.
“The Park Fire continued to burn intensely due to steep terrain and wind conditions,” the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said in a report. Will update on Saturday morning.
New evacuation orders and warnings have been issued for residents of several towns in the path of the fire in the northern central valley of the state, the department said.
The fire broke out Wednesday in Chico, about 90 miles north of Sacramento, and has since forced more than 4,000 people to evacuate.
Cal Fire said the fire has destroyed more than 134 homes and buildings and threatens to destroy 4,200 structures in its path.
The community of 120 people in Mineral, home to Lassen Volcanic National Park headquarters, was evacuated as the fire burned ferociously toward Highway 36 and the east side of the park. According to reports.
The Park Fire currently ranks as the eighth largest wildfire in California history.
“There’s a lot of fuel out there and it’s going to continue to spread at this rate,” said Billy See, Cal Fire’s scene commander.
The blaze was burning grass, shrubs, timber and dead vegetation at a rate of up to eight square miles (5,000 acres) per hour, See said.
One photo showed a parking lot full of burnt vintage cars and trucks.
A freakish “fire nade” was caught on video swirling through the streets of Chico. NorCal Skywarn X.
Billows of smoke and flames were seen from space. Satellite Video Images taken by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration show just that.
The fire was reported to be 3% contained at one point, but was again lowered as the fire spread into Butte and Tehama counties, where emergency conditions have been declared.
Open burning is currently prohibited in Tehama, and air quality is predicted to reach “very unhealthy” levels, according to the Tehama County Air Pollution Control Agency.
Firefighting efforts were intensified on Saturday, with 61 fire brigades, 231 fire engines, 2,484 personnel, 16 helicopters and numerous tankers deployed to fight the blaze, conditions permitting. According to Cal Fire.
Experts say the region’s dense, dry wilderness has been rapidly eroded by recent wildfires, which have spread into areas that had not been cleared. According to the San Francisco Chronicle.
The blaze brought back painful memories for people who experienced the deadly Camp Fire in 2018 in nearby Paradise, just 20 minutes from where the Park Fire began.
Evacuation orders were issued for the entire town of Paradise Friday night.
The Camp Fire became the most destructive blaze in state history, killing 85 people and destroying 11,000 homes. Pacific Gas & Electric equipment malfunction.
But neither that fire nor the massive Dixie Wildfire of 2021 struck Chico.
Authorities say the Chico fire started Wednesday afternoon when a man pushed a burning car into a ravine in Bidwell Park.
Police arrested 42-year-old Ronnie Stout on Thursday on suspicion of arson.
Stout is currently on probation for a DUI charge. The Sacramento Bee reported: He was convicted of child sexual abuse in 2001 and robbery with assault in 2002.
If found guilty of intentional arson, Stout could face up to nine years in state prison, but with his two prior convictions, he could face life in prison under California law.
Only 10 to 15 percent of the state’s wildfires are caused by arson, with most starting from non-human causes like lightning or power lines, according to the media report.
The Chico fire is one of many wildfires raging across the West.
More than 110 fires were burning as of Friday across 2,800 square miles, including parts of Oregon and Idaho, according to the National Joint Fire Center.
With post wire
