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This is an archive article published on July 31, 2024
California’s park fire engulfs Los Angeles-sized area, becomes one of the state’s largest blaze
Located near Chico, California, the fire, which began on Wednesday, has spread across four counties — Butte, Plumas, Shasta and Tehama — and became the largest active fire in the United States on Sunday, and California's fifth-largest in history.
According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the blaze was caused by arson and have arrested a suspect in connection. According to authorities, the fire was ignited by a burning car intentionally pushed into a gully. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)
A rapidly spreading wildfire in US’ Northern California has become one of the largest in the state’s history. Fueled by dry conditions and strong winds, the Park Fire has expanded to 383,619 acres, with containment at 14%.
This area—approximately 600 square miles—is nearly half the size of Rhode Island, more than 12 times larger than San Francisco, and exceeds the size of the city of Los Angeles, as per CalFire.
Located near Chico, California, the fire, which began on last Wednesday, has spread across four counties — Butte, Plumas, Shasta and Tehama — and became the largest active fire in the United States on Sunday, and California’s fifth-largest in history.
According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the blaze was caused by arson and have arrested a suspect in connection. According to authorities, the fire was ignited by a burning car intentionally pushed into a gully.
The Park Fire burns along Highway 36 near Dales, Calif., Monday, July 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)
Ronnie Dean Stout II, 42, from Chico, California, charged with starting the Park Fire by allegedly pushing a flaming car down a Butte County gully last Wednesday, was formally charged with arson on Monday.
He denied wrongdoing at his arraignment, according to Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey. It is unclear if Stout has legal representation.
Stout did not enter a plea and was denied bail. His arraignment has been continued to Thursday, with additional charges potentially forthcoming.
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The Park Fire, driven by dry grass, brush, and timber, is rapidly spreading, according to Fire Captain Dan Collins of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire).
“This fire has lots of fuel that is receptive to burning, and it’s hard to get to,” Collins was quoted as saying by news agency Reuters.
The Park Fire burns along Highway 36 near Dales, Calif., Monday, July 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)
“Our fire line is 260 miles around, that’s the size of three Lake Tahoes. It can take two to three hours to get personnel in there over the terrain.”
As of Tuesday, the fire has destroyed over 160 structures and threatens thousands more. Evacuations have been ordered for numerous communities as firefighters struggle to contain the flames.
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Over 4,200 buildings remain at risk from the rapidly expanding wildfire and has led to the evacuation of more than 4,000 people. No injuries or deaths have been reported.
While a brief respite from the intense heat and wind allowed firefighters to gain some ground, the fire’s behavior remains unpredictable.
The blaze continues to actively burn in multiple areas, with changing weather conditions creating new challenges. Fire tornadoes have been reported, and the fire has reached Lassen Volcanic National Park, forcing its closure.
Fire crews put out hot spots from the Park Fire along Highway 36 near Dales, Calif., Monday, July 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)
The weather forecast offers only a slight chance of a stray thunderstorm on Tuesday, said Ashton Robinson Cook, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, as per a report by Reuters.
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After that, no rain is expected, with hot and extremely dry conditions prevailing. Temperatures are projected to reach 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.8°C) on Wednesday and could remain at that level until next Monday, with relative humidity dropping to as low as 7%.
10 Largest Fires in California
The August Complex fire in 2020 holds the unfortunate record for the largest wildfire, scorching over 1 million acres.
Notably, the Dixie Fire in 2021, caused by powerlines, comes in second place, highlighting the role of infrastructure in fueling these devastating blazes.
The #ParkFire has now escalated to become the fifth-largest wildfire in California’s history, severely impacting Butte, Tehama, Shasta, and Plumas counties. This development underscores the critical importance of being #ReadyforWildfire. One of the most effective ways to ensure… pic.twitter.com/Esh3drISfg
— CAL FIRE (@CAL_FIRE) July 30, 2024
Interestingly, the causes of these fires are diverse. While lightning is a frequent culprit, as seen in the August Complex, SCU Lightning Complex, North Complex, and LNU Lightning Complex fires, human activities such as powerlines and arson also play significant roles.
The Thomas Fire of 2017, caused by powerlines, and the Park Fire of 2024, attributed to arson.
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Experts have warned that this fire season in California could be particularly severe, following two milder seasons, due to forecasted above-average temperatures and abundant vegetation from recent rains serving as fuel.
Across the United States, over 26,000 firefighters and personnel are battling blazes that have scorched more than two million acres.
In Oregon, intense heat and lightning have fueled several wildfires, with the Durkee fire near the Idaho border being the largest at about 288,000 acres and 49% contained.
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The wildfires are generating significant smoke that affects air quality from the Pacific Northwest to the western Dakotas, portions of Nevada, and California, with reduced air quality extending to the Plains and East Coast.
Air quality alerts were in place for parts of the Western US, extending to Pennsylvania and Texas, with more than a million people under red flag warnings in California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Utah, and Wyoming, indicating a high risk of severe wildfires within the next 24 hours.
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