ONE OF THE LARGEST FIRES IN CALIFORNIA’S HISTORY ENGULFS HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF ACRES

Sun 28 July 2024:

A rapidly spreading fire in northern California, known as the Park Fire, has become one of the largest in the state’s history, authorities reported Saturday. The blaze has scorched more than 350,000 acres (142,000 hectares), making it the seventh-largest wildfire ever recorded in California, according to the state agency Cal Fire.

Extreme Conditions Challenge Firefighters

The fire has prompted the evacuation of over 4,000 residents in the rural, mountainous area near Chico, approximately 90 miles (145 kilometers) north of Sacramento. “Extreme fire conditions continue to challenge firefighters,” Cal Fire stated in a post on X.

Despite the efforts of more than 3,700 personnel, including over a dozen helicopters and several planes, the fire remains only 10 percent contained. “Numerous firefighting air tankers from throughout the State are flying fire suppression missions as conditions allow,” the agency reported.

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Lower Temperatures Offer Some Relief

Cal Fire noted that lower temperatures and higher humidity have reduced fire activity, but the fire continues to spread. The Park Fire, which began Wednesday near Chico in Butte County, has quickly devastated the region, extending into neighboring Tehama County.

Destruction and Arrests

As of the latest update, 20 structures have been confirmed destroyed, down from an earlier estimate of 134. The agency expects these numbers to fluctuate as damage assessments continue. The fire has produced a massive column of dense gray smoke, affecting nearby states.

On Thursday, police detained a 42-year-old man on suspicion of starting the fire by pushing a burning car into a ravine.

Memories of Past Devastation

Chico is located about 15 miles from Paradise, a city devastated by a 2018 fire that claimed 85 lives, making it California’s deadliest fire. The rapid growth of the Park Fire has prompted evacuation warnings in Paradise, reviving traumatic memories for its residents.

Ava Elsner, a survivor of the 2018 fire, expressed her concern to CNN, saying, “I don’t want anyone else to experience this. It’s the most traumatizing, terrifying, and saddening thing to have a whole community go up in flames.”

Climate Change Impact

Experts attribute the increasing frequency and severity of such fires to climate change driven by human activities. In Oregon, the Durkee Fire, which started earlier this month, has consumed nearly 290,000 acres and is about 50 percent contained, according to the state’s wildfire response and recovery agency.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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