One of California‘s biggest wildfires has exploded to the size of Los Angeles as it razes through nearly half a million acres as it edges closer to Paradise, where a 2018 fire killed 85 people.
The Park Fire, which started in Chico on Wednesday, has developed into an uncontrollable 307,368-acre behemoth as it bulldozes through two counties in the Northern California.
The massive fire is drawing comparisons to the 2018 Camp Fire, that killed 85 and torched 11,000 homes.
The Park Fire is currently zero-percent contained, according to Cal Fire, as nearly 2,500 firefighters and other personnel desperately try to stop the blaze.
‘Extreme fire behavior has occurred due to the slope and winds aligning, causing significant growth,’ Cal Fire said. ‘The Park Fire continued to burn aggressively due to steep terrain and winds.’
The Park Fire , which started in Chico on Wednesday, has developed into an uncontrollable 307,368-acre behemoth as it bulldozes through two counties in the Northern California
‘Extreme fire behavior has occurred due to the slope and winds aligning, causing significant growth,’ Cal Fire said. ‘The Park Fire continued to burn aggressively due to steep terrain and winds’
The Park Fire is currently zero percent contained, according to Cal Fire, as nearly 2,500 firefighters and other personnel desperately try to stop the blaze
The fire is burning grass, brush, mixed timber and dead vegetation, the organization said.
More than 255,000 acres of Tehama County has been effected, while 52,000 acres in Butte County. Butte and Tehama counties have issued evacuation orders.
The Park Fire has grown so much that in terms of acreage, it is the eighth biggest fire the state has ever seen, according to Cal Fire statistics. The biggest was the August Complex Fire, which burned through 1.03 million acres in August 2020.
A California sex offender was arrested for allegedly starting the Park Fire, the biggest this year.
Ronnie Stout II, 42, was caught pushing his burning car into a gulley in upper Bidwell Park near the city of Chico on Wednesday, the Butte County District Attorney’s Office said.
The vehicle then tumbled 60 feet down an embankment, sparking the fire.
Stout was reportedly seen leaving the scene by blending in with parkgoers as the fire quickly spread.
The fire is edging toward Paradise, where the 2018 Camp Fire started and wrecked havoc
Authorities ultimately identified the suspect early Thursday morning, and took him into custody.
More than 130 structures have been destroyed by this fire so far, and thousands more are threatened in Butte and Tehama. It stood at 480 square miles on Friday night – about the size of Los Angeles – and was moving quickly north and east after igniting Wednesday.
‘There’s a tremendous amount of fuel out there and it’s going to continue with this rapid pace,’ Cal Fire incident commander Billy See said at a briefing. He said the fire was advancing up to eight square miles an hour on Friday afternoon.
More than 110 active fires covering 2,800 square miles were burning in the US on Friday, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. Some were caused by the weather, with climate change increasing the frequency of lightning strikes as the region endures record heat and bone-dry conditions.
California Governor, Gavin Newsom – who endorsed Kamala Harris for the Democratic nomination – declared a state of emergency on Friday in Butte and Tehama counties and Pluma County for the Gold Complex Fire.
California Governor, Gavin Newsom – who endorsed Kamala Harris for the Democratic nomination – declared a state of emergency on Friday in Butte and Tehama counties and Pluma County for the Gold Complex Fire
The fire is burning grass, brush, mixed timber, and dead vegetation, the organization said
‘We are using every available tool to protect lives and property as our fire and emergency response teams work around the clock to combat these challenging fires,’ Newsom said in a statement.
‘Stay safe and remain alert for instructions from local authorities as dangerous fire weather conditions continue.’
The proclamation will ease access to unemployment benefits, and waive fees to replace driver’s licenses and records, such as birth and marriage certificates.
Forest Ranch evacuee Sherry Alpers, fled with her 12 small dogs and made the decision to stay in her car outside a Red Cross shelter in Chico after learning that animals would not be allowed inside. She ruled out traveling to another shelter after learning the dogs would be kept in cages, since her dogs have always roamed free at her home.
Alpers said she doesn’t know whether the fire spared her home or not, but she said that as long as her dogs are safe, she doesn’t care about the material things.
“I’m kind of worried, but not that much,” she said. “If it’s gone, it’s gone.”
More than 110 active fires covering 2,800 square miles were burning in the US on Friday (pictured: The Park Fire on Friday)
More than 130 structures have been destroyed by this fire so far, and thousands more are threatened in Butte and Tehama
The massive fire is drawing comparisons to the 2018 Camp Fire that killed 85 and torched 11,000 homes
The Camp Fire (pictured) was one of the most destructive in state history
Brian Bowles was also staying in his car outside the shelter with his dog Diamon. He said he doesn’t know if his mobile home is still standing.
Bowles said he only has a $100 gift card he received from United Way, which handed them out to evacuees.
‘Now the question is, do I get a motel room and comfortable for one night? Or do I put gas in the car and sleep in here?’ he said. ‘Tough choice.’
In Chico, California, Carli Parker is one of hundreds who fled their homes as the Park Fire pushed close. Parker decided to leave her Forest Ranch residence with her family when the fire began burning across the street. She has previously been forced out of two homes by fire, and she said she had little hope that her residence would remain unscathed.
‘I think I felt like I was in danger because the police had come to our house because we had signed up for early evacuation warnings, and they were running to their vehicle after telling us that we need to self-evacuate and they wouldn’t come back,” said the mother-of-five.