As of 3:35 pm on July 26th, the “Park Fire” that erupted near Chico, north of Sacramento, has scorched 164,286 acres of land, destroyed 134 buildings, threatened 4,200 homes, injured at least 2 people, and forced thousands to evacuate.
The “Park Fire” has become the largest wildfire in California so far this year, raging through the Sierra Nevada and foothills, burning from Butte County to Tehama County. The fire is spreading rapidly as it engulfs grasslands, shrubs, mixed forests, and dead vegetation along slopes and with the direction of the wind. The area is currently under a red flag warning, with 0% containment, and evacuation orders have been issued for some areas in the two counties.
A total of 1,633 firefighters, including 142 fire engines, 17 water tenders, 6 helicopters, 54 bulldozers, and 45 hand crews are on site battling the blaze. Firefighters from other areas in California are also rushing to provide support.
The fire broke out on the afternoon of July 24th and was determined to be an arson case. According to a report by Pressenterprise, Butte County District Attorney Michael Ramsey stated at a press conference on the 25th that witnesses saw a man enter a vehicle, do something inside, then push the burning car off a 60-foot embankment before blending into the crowd fleeing the fire.
42-year-old Chico resident Ronnie Dean Stout is considered the suspect and has been detained on charges of arson with no bail, and is scheduled to appear in court next Monday. Ramsey mentioned that the specific charges will depend on the extent of damage and any casualties from the fire.
The origin of the Park Fire was in the northwest part of Paradise. The Camp Fire in 2018, which claimed 85 lives and devastated thousands of homes in Paradise, remains the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California history. Evacuation warnings have also been issued in that area.
Sheriff Kory Honea stated during a press conference that the evacuation orders in Butte County cover over four thousand residents and urged everyone to be prepared, noting that some residents were experiencing fuel shortages for their vehicles.
According to The New York Times citing the National Interagency Fire Center, Oregon and Washington to the north of California are also facing 43 wildfires covering over 1 million acres, many displaying “extreme fire behavior.” The Durkee Fire near the Oregon-Idaho border has become the largest wildfire in the US, with the blaze spreading over 288,000 acres as of the morning of July 26th. With rainfall in the region, the fire chief mentioned that they will “seize the opportunity,” and containment has reached 20%.
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This is a rewritten and translated version of the original news article, providing a detailed coverage of the “Park Fire” situation in California, alongside information on other wildfires in the region.