The Park Fire in Northern California has exploded in size, consuming over 239,000 acres (97,000 hectares) and becoming the state’s largest wildfire of 2024 and the 12th largest in California’s history. The blaze remains largely uncontained, with only 3% containment reported as of Friday morning. This massive fire has forced the evacuation of more than 4,000 residents from communities including Cohasset and Forest Ranch.The fire’s rapid spread, fueled by hot weather, low humidity, and strong winds, has resulted in the destruction of at least 134 structures, with thousands more threatened. Firefighters are battling challenging conditions, with the fire advancing at a rate of 1,600 to 2,000 hectares (4,000 to 5,000 acres) per hour at its peak. Commander Billy See stated, ‘It has spread rapidly and is growing by 1,600 to 2,000 hectares per hour’.In response to the crisis, California Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency in Butte, Tehama, and Plumas counties. Newsom stated, ‘We are using all available tools to protect lives and property as our fire and rescue teams work around the clock to combat these challenging fires’.Authorities have arrested a 42-year-old man from Chico on suspicion of starting the fire by pushing a burning car into a ravine near Alligator Hole in Upper Bidwell Park. The suspect is being held without bail until his trial next week.The Park Fire is part of a larger pattern of destructive wildfires across the Western United States and Canada. In the US, over 110 active fires are burning across more than 2,800 square miles, while Canada is battling over 3,700 fires. Climate experts continue to warn that the increased frequency and intensity of these wildfires are linked to climate change, which is contributing to more extreme weather events and increasing the frequency of lightning strikes.
Key points
- The Park Fire has grown to over 239,000 acres, becoming California’s largest wildfire of 2024 and the 12th largest in state history.
- Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency in Butte, Tehama, and Plumas counties.
- Over 4,000 residents have been evacuated, and at least 134 structures have been destroyed.
- A 42-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of starting the fire.
- The fire is part of a larger pattern of wildfires across the Western US and Canada, with over 110 active fires in the US and 3,700 in Canada.
Contradictions👾There are slight discrepancies in the reported size of the fire, with some sources citing 97,000 hectares and others mentioning 160,000 acres.
This could be due to different measurement times or conversion inaccuracies.
