Only 10% of California's historic 'Park Fire' contained: Authorities
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The rapid-spreading seventh-largest California wildfire continues to challenge firefighting efforts as it rages out of control.
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Embers spark a spot fire as the Park Fire burns below Highway 32 near Lomo in Butte County, Calif., Friday, July 26, 2024. (AP)
Only 10% of one of California's fastest-growing fires was put out by firefighters, authorities said, as Park Fire continues raging, making it the seventh-largest ever recorded in the state's history.
According to the Cal Fire state agency, the fire flames have engulfed and burned over 350,000 acres of land, after starting in the city of Chico on Wednesday.
"Numerous firefighting air tankers from throughout the State are flying fire suppression missions as conditions allow," the agency stated, noting that reduced temperatures and heightened humidity were also helping. Nevertheless, the fire has proven to be one of the hardest to contain, challenging the efforts of 3,700 personnel and more than a dozen helicopters and several planes.
As it continued to uncontrollably spread, authorities sounded the alarm for the evacuation of over 4,000 people living in the region. Friday reports estimated that over 130 structures had reportedly been demolished, and many more were reportedly in danger.
However, Cal Fire's most recent update confirms that only 20 structures have been completely damaged.
Incredible footage from the Park Fire outside Chico, California.
— The Hotshot Wake Up (@HotshotWake) July 26, 2024
72k+ acres of destruction from a car lit on fire and hucked into a ravine.
“A 42 year old man was arrested by CalFire arson investigators… seen pushing a car that was on fire into a gully” pic.twitter.com/Tz6oDDTA6l
The number is expected to continue fluctuating until a complete assessment is done by authorities.
Reportedly, authorities arrested a man suspected to have started the fire after he pushed a burning vehicle into a ravine.
Read more: Impact of climate change on California’s wildfires
Park Fire was likened to the devastating Camp Fire, which broke out in neighboring Paradise in 2018, destroying 11,000 houses and killing 85 people.
Ava Elsner, who witnessed and survived the Camp Fire, relayed to CNN her extensive worries as her neighbors were forced to experience the disaster.
"I don't want anyone else to experience this. It's the most traumatizing, terrifying, and saddening thing to have a whole community go up in flames," she said
This year, more than 15,000 square kilometers have burnt in at least 27,000 fires in the US, and more than 22,800 square kilometers have burned in more than 3,700 fires in Canada thus far.
Just earlier this month, a strong wildfire that broke out in northern California threatened thousands of houses, as the state is experiencing an intense heatwave that could be historic – forcing about 28,000 residents to flee their homes.
The Thompson fire rapidly spread over more than 3,500 acres (1,416 hectares) close to the city of Oroville, an hour outside of the Californian capital of Sacramento.
