California’s Park Fire has scorched over 350,000 acres in Buttle, Plumas, Shasta and Tehama counties. Within three days, it surpassed the size of Los Angeles and became the seventh-largest wildfire in state history.
Since igniting on Wednesday, the fire has burned approximately 5,000 acres per hour.
Authorities allege that the fire began when a man pushed a burning car into a gully in Chico and fled. The blaze has led to evacuations, widespread destruction of 134 structures, and the closure of Lassen Volcanic National Park.
Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency, securing federal funding for relief efforts. Nearly 2,500 firefighters, 16 helicopters, and numerous air tankers are battling the blaze.
The Park Fire’s intensity and rapid spread have drawn comparisons to the 2018 Camp Fire, which devastated Paradise, killed 85 people, and destroyed 11,000 homes.
Experts attribute the fire’s extreme behavior to a volatile mix of climate conditions: record heat, prolonged dry spells, and abundant dry vegetation. According to Cal Fire, there were 800 more fires this year compared to last year, including 54 fires that resulted in arson arrests.