Firefighters have increased containment on the 627-square-mile Park Fire near Chico, California, which is now 34% contained.
The fire, now the fourth largest wildfire in history, is 401,740 acres. It was 24% contained on Friday. It has destroyed 640 structures and damaged 52 structures
The fire, which covers parts of four counties—Butte, Plumas, Shasta and Tehama—has a massive amount of resources assigned to it. More than 6,500 firefighters, 532 engines, 154 water tenders and 44 helicopters are fighting the blaze.
Related: 600-Square-Mile-Plus Wildfire in California Now State’s Fifth Largest on Record
“With several days of previously favorable weather, firefighters have been able to build and widen lines using a mix of roads, dozerline and handline heading south from Highway 36, across the front of the fire and tied in around McCarthy Creek,” a CalFire update states.
The Park Fire started on July 24. A Chico man accused of setting the fire by pushing a flaming vehicle into a grassy area was arrested, and he has said it was an accident.
Other large fires burning in California include the 2024 SQF Lightning Complex fire in Tulare which is 92,152 acres and 49% contained, and the Shelly Fire in Siskiyou County, which is 15,520 acres and is 92% contained.
Related: State Farm Seeking Large Rate Increases in Wildfire-Prone California
This month has been active for wildfires. According to CalFire, 4,822 wildfires have burned 777,595 acres so far this year, and 1,078 structures have been reported damaged or destroyed.
The Park Fire is now fourth on the list of largest fires in California, passing the Creek Fire in 2020 in Fresno County at 379,895 acres and the SCU Lightning Complex Fire in 2020 at 396,625 acres. The Mendocino Complex Fire in 2018 at 459,123 acres is third on the list, the Dixie Fire in 2021 at 963,309 acres was second on the list and the August Complex Fire in 2020 was more than 1 million acres was the state’s largest wildfire.
Nine of the top 10 largest wildfires in the state have occurred after 2017, according to CalFire.
Top photo: Park Fire in California. Source: CalFire.
Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Wildfire
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