For the first time since the start of the Park Fire on Wednesday afternoon, the initial morning update from Cal Fire – Butte County today contained a fair amount of good news.
Unfortunately, it also included a warning that the good news could be short-lived.
Cooler temperatures and overall better weather conditions helped firefighters gain an upper hand Saturday night and Sunday morning, holding the fire to by far its lowest rate of growth since it was ignited by a man pushing a burning car into a gully in upper Bidwell Park.
As of 8 a.m. Sunday, the total number of acres burned stood at 353,194 — barely 3,000 acres more than the final update of Saturday night. Containment also grew slightly, from 10% to 12%.
In another bit of good news, Cal Fire reduced its count of the number of structures that had been destroyed. Listed at 134 the past two days, the count has been revised to 66, with another five structures damaged. Another 4,200 structures are still listed as threatened.
Tehama County continues to feel the brunt of the fire’s growth, with 300,344 burned there.
Cal Fire also warned that the danger of more rapid growth in the seventh-largest fire in the state’s history remains a very real threat, especially with another change in the weather conditions. High temperatures are expected to be back in the 90s for the next few days after staying in the 80s on Saturday.
“Warm, windy and dry conditions will increase risk of extreme fire activity similar to what the fire has done previously,” according to the morning news release. “There will be higher temperatures and lower humidities today.”
As of Sunday morning, there are 343 engines and 3,927 personnel fighting the fire, along with 103 water tenders, 16 helicopters, 160 dozers and 87 hand crews.
A full list of evacuations and other updated information from Cal Fire can be accessed by clicking on this link.
Shelter options
An American Red Cross fire shelter is accepting evacuees at the Neighborhood Church in Chico at 2800 Notre Dame Blvd. A small animal shelter is in operation at 2279 Del Oro in Oroville, and a large animal shelter is available at the Camelot Equestrian Park, 1985 Clark Road in Oroville.
In Tehama County, shelters are available at the Los Molinos Veterans Hall at 7980 Sherwood Blvd., and St. Peter’s Episcopal Church at 510 Jefferson Street in Red Bluff. A small animal shelter is available at 22005 Gilmore Ranch Road in Red Bluff.
Large animal shelters in Tehama County are available at Ridgeway Park, 19725 Ridge Road in Red Bluff, and the Corning Rodeo Grounds at Clark Park, 103 E. Fig Lane. Both are self-service; provide your own set-up and feed.
Cal Fire-Butte County has activated its 211 information number for locals and also 866-916-3566 for callers outside of Butte County.
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