Wildfires across the western United States and Canada have resulted in millions of people being under air quality alerts as firefighters work to contain the flames, including the largest wildfire in California this year.
The Park Fire has burned an area larger than the size of Los Angeles as of Sunday, creating smoky skies and poor air quality in the northwestern U.S. and western Canada. The fire has spread across more than 550 square miles of inland Northern California.
Cooler temperatures and higher humidity on Saturday helped firefighters make progress, increasing containment from zero to 12%. The fire has been compared to the 2018 Camp Fire that devastated Paradise, killing 85 people and destroying 11,000 homes.
RELATED STORY | California’s largest wildfire explodes in size as fires rage across US West
Evacuation warnings were issued for Paradise and other Butte County communities on Sunday. Cal Fire operations section chief Jeremy Pierce provided some reassurance, stating that the southernmost front of the Park Fire near Paradise was looking favorable, with crews focused on eliminating hot spots and hazards over the next few days.
First responders have shifted their focus from saving lives and property to directly combating the fire, as indicated by Jay Tracy, a spokesperson at the Park Fire headquarters. Nearly 4,000 firefighters, along with helicopters and air tankers, are battling the blaze which has been rapidly growing.
RELATED STORY | Oregon wildfire creates its own weather as fires across Northwest burn
In Southern California, around 2,000 people were evacuated due to a fire in the Sequoia National Forest that had spread quickly, consuming over 60 square miles in just four days.
A “red flag” warning by the National Weather Service emphasized the heightened fire danger in the region on Sunday, with dry fuels and stronger winds contributing to extreme fire conditions.
RELATED STORY | Wildfire risk is everywhere, and experts say the risk is getting worse
While no fatalities have been reported in the Park and Borel fires, some individuals are disregarding evacuation orders, posing additional risks for everyone in the affected areas.
Crews are also making progress on fires in the Plumas National Forest near the California-Nevada border, but the threat of wildfires persists despite cooler temperatures.
The Park Fire has resulted in the destruction of at least 66 structures and damaged five others. Authorities initially estimated 134 structures lost, but revised the number after assessing the damage in person.
The Park Fire, which started with a man allegedly setting a car on fire in Chico, is part of over 100 wildfires burning in the U.S., with climate change contributing to increased fire risks amid extreme heat and dry conditions in the West.
