CHICO — The Park Fire, which began Wednesday afternoon when one man pushed a burning car into a gully in Bidwell Park, continues to roar into the record books with unmatched speed and uncontrollable fury.
As of 11:30 a.m. Saturday, the fire was at 348,370 acres — a growth of more than 100,000 acres in the past 17 hours. By 3:30 p.m., it had grown to 350,012.
That makes it, already, the seventh-largest wildfire in California’s history. At its current unprecedented rate of growth, and with the fire still at zero percent containment, the Park Fire could end up as the fourth-biggest wildfire in state history by sunrise Sunday; the current No. 4, the SCU Lightning Complex of August 2020, burned 396,624 acres.
The Park Fire has also burned more acres than every combined wildfire in the state of California during a relatively light year of 2023 (324,917).
There was, however, one bit of encouraging news Saturday night. Cal Fire listed the fire as 10% contained after it had been listed at zero for the previous day.
Southeasterly winds continued to overwhelm firefighters Friday night and early Saturday on the north head of the fire, which has crossed Highway 36 in Tehama County and led to evacuation orders in the Manton, Mineral and Dale’s Station areas.
The fire has even begun to make its mark in Shasta County. Evacuation orders have been issued for all Shasta County zones south of Highway 44 in the Shingletown area.
And residents of the ridge, including in Magalia and Paradise, got the sickening news Friday night they’ve come to know all-too-well: an evacuation warning. The fire has also burned up and around Inskip Hill.
For a full list of evacuation zones — including both orders and warnings — go to Cal Fire’s incident page at fire.ca.gov and click on the most recent update.
Cohasset ridge
Destruction left by the Park Fire was more clearly seen Saturday in a drive-through of Cohasset Road as several utility workers and Cal Fire members worked to clear power lines and debris from roads since Friday.
Several properties along the top of the Cohasset ridge were destroyed; others were spared. But downhill along Mud Creek, areas surrounding Vilas Road were seen burned to a char and the forest devoid of any green.
Cal Fire’s official count of 134 structures destroyed remained the same Saturday from previous counts.
Several Cohasset residents were seen queued by a roadblock on Cohasset Road, but California Highway Patrol officers did not let them in.
Fire mitigation and electrical companies were seen surveying damaged properties in Forest Ranch and Cohasset.
Highway 32
Cal Fire appeared to move resources away from the foothill end of Highway 32 by Saturday morning, with spot fires continuing on the west side of the highway and one more extinguished spot fire on the east side seen since Friday afternoon by this newspaper.
Four homes were seen destroyed on Forest Ranch Way by Saturday morning, with most other homes appearing untouched.
However, Saturday afternoon, the fire turned back toward Highway 32 about 20 miles above Forest Ranch.
It hadn’t jumped over the highway as of 5 p.m., when air resources were called into the area.
Planes dropped retardant across the highway and both sides. Dozers were digging fire lines to contain the fire.
Firefighting objectives
In the morning briefing, firefighters were told that Saturday’s objectives were to keep the fire north of Skyway, east of Highway 99, south of Highway 44, and west of the Skyway to Humbug Summit.
Firefighters were also told to keep the fire on Highway 32 and that it is a “must-hold.” In Manton in Tehama County, firefighters took take a more direct attack on the fire and aimed to keep it south of Highway 44.
Cal Fire’s morning update did include one glimmer of hope: improved weather conditions. Cooler weather and higher moisture in the air is expected for Sunday, which should aid efforts against a fire burning in grass, brush, mixed timber and dead vegetation.
A total of 231 engines were deployed on the fire as of Saturday morning, with 58 water tenders, 16 helicopters, 116 dozers, and 61 hand crews. Total personnel on the fire is 2,484.
Second team
Cal Fire-Butte County Capt. Dan Collins, a public information officer, said Saturday afternoon that a second management team was being formed to help with the fire.
The second team set up at the Tehama County Fairgrounds in Red Bluff to manage that portion of the fire. The team in Chico at the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds will manage the Butte County portion of the fire.
Road closures
Cal Fire reported the following roads closed at its morning briefing:
Route 32 at the junction with State Route 36 in Tehama County and at Bruce Road in Butte County; Cohasset Road at Rock Creek; Upper Park Road at Wildwood; Keefer and Hicks; Hicks and Oasis; Forks of the Butte Bridge; Highway 32 and Yosemite (eastbound only); Highway 99 and Meridian; Highway 32 and Upper Humboldt; the Butte-Tehama County line at Meridian; Cohasset and Eaton.
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.
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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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