Credits: AP News
An enormous wildfire, known as the Park Fire, is ravaging northern California, expanding at a rate of 8 square miles (20 sq km) per hour. The blaze, which ignited on Wednesday in a suspected arson attack, has scorched over 350,000 acres of land northeast of Chico and remains only 10% contained as of Sunday morning, according to Cal Fire.
Around 3,700 firefighters are battling the inferno, fueled by steep terrain and wind gusts. The suspected arsonist, a 42-year-old man, was arrested on Thursday for allegedly starting the fire by rolling a burning car into a gully near Alligator Hole in Butte County.
Currently the largest fire in California this year and the seventh largest ever recorded in the state, the Park Fire has consumed an area more than 1.5 times the size of New York City’s five boroughs. Fire Captain Robert Foxworthy cited steep terrain and limited access roads as significant challenges, exacerbated by embers igniting spot fires far ahead of the main blaze.
Cal Fire incident commander Billy See reported that the fire spread at a rate of 5,000 acres per hour. Despite having nearly triple the personnel on Saturday compared to Friday, See noted that “we still don’t have enough.”
Fire behavior specialist Scott Weese highlighted the high fuel load in the area, with an abundance of grass contributing to the fire’s intensity. “The heat signature is huge,” he said, noting that the fire burned through 150,000 acres in a single day.
Authorities hoped to take advantage of improved conditions on Saturday, with decreased wind speeds and a slight drop in temperatures. However, Cal Fire indicated that while lower temperatures and higher humidity have slowed the fire’s spread, it continues to grow in some areas. The chance of fire whirls, including rare “firenadoes,” has decreased.
California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in Butte and Tehama counties due to the Park Fire and announced federal assistance for Tehama County on Saturday, with Butte County receiving aid earlier in the week.
At least 16 helicopters and multiple air tankers are combating the blaze, which has forced mandatory evacuations in Butte County. The 400 residents of Cohasset have already been evacuated. Cal Fire reported that 134 structures have been destroyed and 4,200 more are threatened.
The alleged arsonist, Ronnie Dean Stout, is accused of fleeing the scene and blending in with other citizens. He is currently held without bail as authorities determine charges. A woman at his listed address claimed, “They’re saying he did it intentionally, but he didn’t. The car caught on fire.”
The Park Fire is among many currently burning across the US and Canada. The National Interagency Fire Center is monitoring 102 large fires in the US, primarily in western states. In Oregon, a firefighting pilot died in a tanker plane crash. In Canada, a large wildfire in Jasper National Park destroyed hundreds of buildings, though weekend rain and cooler temperatures have aided firefighting efforts.
