California’s largest active fire grew rapidly on Friday evening, threatening thousands of homes as firefighters worked to contain the danger. The Park Fire’s intensity and dramatic spread drew comparisons to the devastating Camp Fire of 2018.
More than 130 structures have been destroyed so far, with evacuations ordered in four counties. The fire stood at 480 square miles on Friday night, moving quickly north and east since igniting on Wednesday.
Cal Fire incident commander Billy See expressed concern about the fire’s rapid pace, advancing up to 8 square miles an hour on Friday afternoon. Evacuations were also ordered in Lassen Volcanic National Park as the fire approached.
Across the U.S. West and Canada, several communities were under siege from wildfires. In eastern Oregon, a pilot died in a plane crash while fighting a fire. Climate change has exacerbated fire conditions, with over 110 active fires burning in the U.S. on Friday.
Fire crews made progress on some fires in the Plumas National Forest, while the Park Fire continued to grow at alarming rates. Evacuees like Carli Parker in Chico left their homes, uncertain of what they would return to.
Officials arrested a man in connection with the Park Fire, while evacuations and containment efforts continued in various areas affected by wildfires.
