Park Fire grows to fourth-largest wildfire in California history

Fire crews continued their seemingly endless battle against the Park Fire near Chico overnight Friday, adding some more containment to what has now become the fourth-largest wildfire in California history.

Cal Fire reported early Friday that the blaze has now burned 397,629 acres in Tehama and Butte counties. The size of the fire — about 621 square miles — is larger than the city of Los Angeles, and has moved past the August 2020 SCU Lightning Complex on the list of the state’s biggest fires. The SCU Lightning Complex burned 396,624 acres over six counties.

Only the 2020 August Complex (1,032,648 acres), the July 2021 Dixie Fire (963,309 acres) and the July 2018 Mendocino Complex (459,123 acres) have burned more land.

Fire crews have contained 24% of the blaze, according to Cal Fire. The containment of the fire grew by 6% over the previous 24 hours.

Cal Fire has used 6,305 fire personnel to battle the blaze since it began on July 24. The agency said they are competing against low humidity and extremely dry grass fuels. Grasses, brush and mixed timber have been the primary carrier of the blaze, according to Cal Fire, and the thick smoke from the blaze has created limited visibility and prevented aircraft from operating in some areas.

Cal Fire said that 340,013 acres have burned in Tehama County and about 53,000 acres have been scorched in Butte County. The blaze has destroyed 540 structures and damaged another 50 in those two counties. Cal Fire has not reported any injuries.

The fire also brought evacuation orders and warnings in Shasta County and evacuation warnings in Plumas County, authorities said.

The fight for crews Friday will continue amid a warm, unstable air mass that is expected to persist into next week, according to the National Weather Service. Dry lightning is a possibility throughout the north part of the state because of moisture from a monsoon in the southern desert that is migrating north.

Authorities have charged a 42-year-old Chico man with arson for starting the fire. He is suspected of pushing a flaming car off a cliff in upper Bidwell Park. Cal Fire said the car went approximately 60 feet down an embankment near Chico Creek and spread flames.

The blaze is not the only wildfire in Northern California that have occupied crews. The Creek Fire in Alameda County had reached 95% containment Thursday night. It has burned 744 acres. The Hill Fire in Humboldt and Trinity counties has burned 7,224 acres and was 84% contained.