Firefighters in Northern California have made significant progress in containing the state’s largest blaze this year, partly due to improving weather conditions over the weekend.
The Park Fire, believed to be caused by arson, has scorched almost 370,000 acres across Butte, Plumas, Shasta, and Tehama counties — an area roughly half the size of Rhode Island.
Over 3,500 residents were evacuated, and more than 4,800 fire personnel, along with hundreds of fire engines, responded to the blaze. According to CalFire’s latest update, 100 homes and structures have been destroyed since the fire ignited last Wednesday, with no reported fatalities.
CalFire officials reported that the Park Fire now ranks as the sixth-largest wildfire in the state’s history, although this position could change as efforts to fully extinguish it continue.
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California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in Butte, Plumas, and Tehama counties, easing access for impacted residents to unemployment benefits and waiving fees for replacing driver’s licenses and vital records.
The Butte County Air Quality Management District and the Butte County Public Health Department jointly issued a health emergency due to the hazardous materials present in the ash and debris from the fire. Air quality advisories have been issued for the northwestern U.S. and western Canada.
As of Monday morning, the Park Fire was 12% contained, with increased humidity providing some assistance over the weekend.
The governor’s office announced that federal aid and resources have been secured to aid in controlling the fire.
The Park Fire ignited on Wednesday after a 42-year-old man from Chico was allegedly seen pushing a burning car into a gulley near Upper Bidwell Park, as CalFire investigators reported.
The suspect, identified as Ronnie Dean Stout II, was taken into custody by law enforcement and charged with arson. He is currently held at Butte County Jail, according to records.
