One of the worst wildfires in California history is tearing through the state. Now, state firefighters are relying on cooling temperatures to keep the flames contained.
Containing the Park Fire
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Firefighters in California are breathing a sigh of relief as cooler temperatures and increased humidity have helped them to get a handle on the ever-growing Park Fire in the north of the state.
Seventh-Largest in California History
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The Park Fire, which began blazing this week, is now the seventh-largest wildfire in California history. It has torn through more than 350,000 acres, an area the size of Los Angeles.
Four Counties Affected
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It only took three days for the wildfire to ravage four counties in the state – Butte, Plumas, Shast, and Tehama – helped in part by funneling winds and extreme heat.
Several Wildfires Raging
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The Park Fire is one of a number of wildfires currently raging across the western United States and Canada, a phenomenon which has been exacerbated by record-high heat this summer.
Difficult to Reach
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The areas affected by the wildfire were relatively underdeveloped, with steep lands and limited road access, making it difficult for state firefighters to effectively contain the fires.
An Opportunity
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Though the fire doubled in size over that period, according to California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) spokesman Rick Carhart, the less inclement weather has given firefighters the chance to take more pointed action against the aggressive blaze.
Making Gains
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“It feels much different today — that lower temperature and a little increased humidity…” Carhart said. “We’ll take advantage of every opportunity as we can to make gains.”
A “Great Success”
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“We’re having great success today,” said Cal Fire operations section chief Jeremy Pierce. “Our crews are strong and going out there and getting this while the weather is in our favor.”
Growing by 8 Square Miles an Hour
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The fire has been enormously fast in growth and movement. Not only did it double its size, but over the first two days it was moving through the landscape at a rate of 8 square miles per hour.
Compared to the Camp Fire
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The unusual spread and intensity of the fire has seen some compare it unfavorably to the devastating Camp Fire, which ripped through Butte County in 2018, killing 85 and destroying more than 11,000 homes.
State of Emergency
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This week’s blaze prompted California Governor Gavin Newsom to declare a state of emergency in both Butte and Tehama on Friday.
3,700 Firefighters Deployed
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By the end of the day Saturday more than 3,700 firefighters had been deployed across the state to help contain the flames.
Tehama County Most Affected
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Much of the damage caused by the Park Fire has occurred in Tehama County, where more than 300,000 acres have been charred.
Warnings and Evacuations
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Official warnings and evacuation orders were in Butte, Plumas, Shasta, and Tehama, with some evacuation orders being downgraded where applicable. Dozens still remain in effect.
“Using Every Tool Available”
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“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 public statement.
Incoming Weather Unclear
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Potential progress in containing the fire over the next few days is still unclear. Saturday will likely be “the best day, as far as weather conditions, that we’re going to experience this week,” said Scott Weese, another Cal Fire representative who studies fire behavior.
No Guarantees
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Meteorologist Marc Chenard of the National Weather Service Weather Prediction Center has warned that even if weather is cooler than average this week “that doesn’t mean that fires that are existing will go away.”
A Man-Made Blaze?
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The Park Fire has now been marked as a manmade fire after authorities received reports about a man who had been seen pushing a burning car into a gully near Chico, the most populous city in Butte County.
Held Without Bail
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The suspect, 42-year-old Ronnie Dean Stout, was arrested on Thursday and is being held without bail, according to county officials.
Growing Fire Risks
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Extreme heat this summer is contributing to growing wildfire risks around the country. Last week saw the hottest days on record reported across three consecutive days. More than 687,000 acres of land in California have been ravaged by wildfires so far this year.
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