A massive wildfire in northern California has been growing rapidly, spreading by 8 square miles an hour. Called the Park Fire, it started on Wednesday due to suspected arson and has burned over 350,000 acres northeast of Chico. As of Sunday, it was only 10% contained, according to Cal Fire.
Around 3,700 firefighters are working to control the blaze, which has been fueled by steep terrain and strong winds. A 42-year-old man was arrested for allegedly starting the fire by rolling a burning car into a ditch near Alligator Hole in Butte County.
This fire is the largest in California this year and the seventh largest ever recorded in the state. It has burned an area more than 1.5 times the size of New York City.
Fire Captain Robert Foxworthy mentioned that the challenging terrain and lack of roads are making it difficult to fight the fire. Embers are being carried far ahead of the main fire, starting new fires.
The fire is spreading at a rate of 5,000 acres an hour, said Cal Fire incident commander Billy See. There are almost three times as many personnel fighting the fire compared to earlier, but it’s still not enough.
The fire’s intense heat and abundant grass in the area are causing it to spread quickly. However, on Saturday, conditions improved slightly with lower temperatures and higher humidity, slowing the fire’s spread in some areas. Officials are hopeful these conditions will help them contain the blaze.
California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency for Butte and Tehama counties and announced new federal assistance. Firefighters are using helicopters and air tankers to fight the fire from the sky when conditions allow.
The fire has forced evacuations, including the 400 residents of Cohasset. It has destroyed 134 structures and threatens 4,200 more.
Authorities arrested Ronnie Dean Stout, 42, accusing him of starting the fire and blending in with other evacuees. He is in jail without bail as charges are determined.
The Park Fire is one of many burning in the US and Canada. In Oregon, a firefighting pilot died in a plane crash. In Canada, a large fire in Jasper National Park destroyed hundreds of buildings.
This situation highlights the severe wildfire season in North America and the challenges faced by firefighters.
[Source: BBC]
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd1dlzy04l8o