California wildfire explodes, becomes largest in US
Smoke and flame rise from Park Fire burning near Chico, California, US, Jul 25, 2024. Picture taken with long exposure. (Photo: Reuters/Fred Greaves)
Thousands of firefighters were battling a rapidly growing wildfire in northern California on Saturday (Jul 27) after the blaze more than doubled in size in a 24-hour span.
The Park Fire had burned more than 141,640 hectares about 144km north of the state capital city of Sacramento as of Saturday afternoon, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire.
Cooler temperatures and more humid air were expected in the region, potentially helping efforts to slow the spread of the fire, which was still 0 per cent contained. The fire has destroyed 134 structures, authorities said.
Evacuation orders and warnings were issued for multiple communities in several counties, including a warning for Paradise, the town that was devastated by the 2018 Camp Fire, the deadliest in the state's history.
A man was arrested on Thursday on suspicion that he started the Park Fire by pushing a flaming car into a gully on Wednesday afternoon.
The fire was the largest of dozens across the country that have burned more than 809,400 hectares, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.
In Oregon, several fires were burning, including the Durkee Fire, which had scorched more than 116,550 hectares in the eastern part of the state, authorities said.
A firefighter died after a single-engine tanker crashed near the Falls Fire in southeastern Oregon, the US Forest Service said in a statement on Friday.
