The scorching weather and increasingly strong winds have intensified a devastating wildfire in Northern California – the Park Fire. This wildfire has forced thousands of local residents to flee their homes over the past weekend.
According to data from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, as of Monday evening, the fire has burned over 373,000 acres, with 52,859 acres in Butte County and 315,397 acres in Tehama County. The containment of the fire is at 14%.
The blaze has destroyed 109 residential structures and damaged 5 buildings. The firefighting efforts have involved 4,876 firefighters, 33 helicopters, 434 fire engines, 166 bulldozers, and 116 water trucks to control the wildfire.
Commander Billy See mentioned last Sunday that as the temperature rose to 92 degrees Fahrenheit and humidity dropped, the fire spread even more rapidly. He stated, “We are feeling the heat from the sun and experiencing increased winds in the upper canyon area. We encountered some challenges along the Highway 32 corridor.”
Fire Department spokesperson Dan Collins revealed to Epoch Times that approximately 4,450 residents in Butte and Tehama counties are under evacuation orders. Additionally, nearly 19,500 people received evacuation warnings last Sunday night.
State Fire Chief Mark Brunton reported that the flames have reached Highway 32 which connects the counties. The fire department received support from multiple rotorcraft and fixed-wing aircraft on Sunday, actively fighting the blaze.
The community of Paradise has been under evacuation warnings since the 26th. This town of only 6,500 residents was severely impacted by a wildfire in 2018, believed to have been caused by aging power facilities, destroying the entire community, resulting in 85 fatalities and over 6,700 structures destroyed, mostly residences.
Many individuals have been offering prayers for the residents on the town’s Facebook page. Sheriff Kory Honea of Butte County stated at a press conference last Sunday that firefighters are diligently working to extinguish hot spots and create safe conditions for residents to return home. He said, “We are working to downgrade some evacuation orders to warnings.”
The Park Fire broke out in Chico, approximately 87 miles north of Sacramento, on the 24th. Investigators arrested a suspect the following day, suspecting that he had deliberately pushed a burning car into a ravine at Bidwell Park, igniting the wildfire.
The suspect, 42-year-old Ronnie Dean Stout II, is facing a charge of arson and is scheduled for an initial court hearing this Monday.
Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency for Butte and Tehama counties last Saturday, allowing California to receive more federal assistance to combat the wildfire.
The emergency declaration provides additional resources for rescue and recovery efforts, simplifies the application process for unemployment benefits, and waives fees for replacing driver’s licenses and other documents to support residents affected by the wildfire.
In a press release, Newsom stated, “This is one of the largest wildfires in California’s history, and we continue to face dangerous conditions – firefighters and emergency responders are working tirelessly around the clock to protect our communities.”
The Governor’s office mentioned that the emergency declaration also permits hospitals, adult and senior care facilities, and other facilities affected by the fire to continue providing services.
According to the office’s report, the state government has received wildfire management assistance funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help the fire department acquire necessary resources to combat the fire in Butte County.