A fire less than one week old has overtaken nearly four hundred thousand acres in Northern California, making it the sisth largest wildfire the state has ever seen.
A Man-Made Disaster
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While many of the fires currently blazing across the country were ignited by weather events like lightning strikes, the Park Fire got its start when a man, Butte County resident Ronnie Dean Stout II, pushed his car into a gully while it was on fire.
Man to Blame Faces Jail Time
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Stout, 42, has been arrested and remains in jail with no bond on arson charges, according to District Attorney Mike Ramsey. Thousands of people have been evacuated from their homes as a result of the fire.
Prior Fire Victims Among Those Affected
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Some evacuees include residents of Paradise, California, who are no strangers to the devastating effects of wildfires. In 2018, Paradise was leveled by the Camp Fire, which killed 85 people.
Weather Making Conditions Harder
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Firefighters and officials hoped that a cold front with rain would help control many of the fires burning in the Pacific Northwest, but weather experts say that the wind coming with that weather could make things worse, making fires spread further.
Close to Three Hundred Structures Impacted
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Over the weekend, the Park Fire took out over a hundred structures. To date, that number has grown to nearly three hundred. So far, no human casualties have been reported, and evacuations are continuing in the region.
Fire Remains at 18% Containment
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Now, the weather is projected to get worse, with higher temperatures and lower humidity strengthening the fire. At only 18% containment, the fire represents critical danger for the northern part of the state.
“It Is Advised to be Cautious During this Time”
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“The weather is expected to become much warmer and drier later this week, with some winds and potential for thunderstorms it is advised to be cautious during this time,” said a spokesperson for CalFire.
Fire Tornadoes Develop
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Crews are working around the clock to put out the fire, but are working in extreme conditions. Fire tornadoes have erupted as a result of the Park Fire, increasing the dangers and making it easier for the fire to spread.
Museum Fears Losing Artifacts
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According to CalFire, firefighters are prioritizing protecting structures as well as “attempting to complete containment lines in some areas.” As the fire encroaches on Lassen Volcanic National Park, staff members fear the loss of important historical artifacts on site in the park’s museum.
Man Responsible Has Prior Record
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Prosecuters say that if the Park Fire results in any human loss of life or injury, Stout will face severe consequences, in part due to his prior criminal record.
“Reckless Arson”
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“For reckless arson, the upper term is four years. With his prior strikes, you can double that. Not make it 25 to life, but you can double that,” said Mike Ramsey, Butte County’s District Attorney.
Perpetrator Drunk When Fire Set
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The prosecution says Stout was intoxicated at the time of his arrest.
EPA Explains Climate Change’s Impact on Wildfires
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The Environmental Protection Agency offers some insight on how climate change has a direct impact on the increased occurrence and severity of wildfires. From limited water supply to hotter average temperatures, climate conditions are perfect to support quickly-growing blazes.
Wildfire Seasons to Extend, says EPA
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The EPA says wildfire seasons will get longer as the climate worsens. It also cites several other contributors to wildfires as reasons they are so much more common and serious than prior years.
Other Factors Making Wildfires More Frequent
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“In addition to climate change, other factors – land use, large-scale insect infestation, fuel availability, and management practices, including fire suppression – play an important role in wildfire frequency and intensity,” the EPA states on its website.
Fire Continues to Spread
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At present, the Park Fire remains in rural parts of Northern California, but it is rapidly moving toward more populated areas as crews work to slow its spread and contain it.
Thousands of Crew Risk Lives, “Still In For Quite a Firefight”
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Nearly five thousand firefighters are working together to contain the wildfire, and CalFire captain Dan Collins says they are “still in for quite a firefight” due to the “sheer magnitude and the sheer size of the fire.”
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