The largest wildfire currently burning in California has grown to more than 350,000 acres, but progress in containing it, as well as a cool-down, is hoped to help defeat it. The Park Fire was allegedly started on Wednesday by a man who pushed a flaming vehicle into a gulley filled with dry brush at a park in Chico. The blaze quickly spread due to hot temperatures, dry brush, and gusty winds. Similar conditions have led to multiple fires across the West this month, affecting states like Oregon and Washington, as well as parts of Canada.
Cal Fire officials reported that the Park Fire has destroyed 134 structures so far as it continues to move northward from Chico to Tehama County. After three days with no containment, firefighters were able to contain 10% of the blaze on Saturday. Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea announced mandatory and recommended evacuations depending on the location. Governor Gavin Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency for Butte and Tehama counties, as well as Plumas County where the smaller Gold Complex Fire was also burning.
Current fires in California have already burned 626,600 acres, with 102 large active wildfires nationwide, most of them in the West. In total, these fires have charred more than 2 million acres, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. Twenty-one wildfires in the U.S. have led to evacuation orders. Fire weather watches and warnings were in place for parts of multiple states, indicating prime fire conditions like high temperatures, dry air, and gusty winds in the forecast. Approximately 1.5 million people in the U.S. were covered by red flag warnings or fire weather watches issued by the National Weather Service.
Earth scientists attribute the lengthening fire season, intensification of blazes, and extreme weather conditions to climate change. Those fighting the Park Fire near Paradise, which was devastated by the Camp Fire in 2018, were assisted by temperatures 10 to 15 degrees cooler than Friday’s highs, according to the National Weather Service. A cool upper trough was expected to move across California through midweek, providing some relief. However, temperatures could rise again before the weekend in the Chico area.
In addition to the Park Fire, other areas in California were also affected by wildfires. The Gold Complex Fire in Plumas County was at 3,007 acres with 50% containment, according to Cal Fire. Furthermore, Governor Newsom’s office secured a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to assist firefighters battling the Borel Fire in Kern County, which has burned 31,000 acres since starting on federal land on July 24. As the situation continues to evolve, efforts to contain the fires and protect affected communities remain ongoing.
