How much did Park Fire grow over the weekend? How much is contained? Here’s a quick rundown
The Park Fire devastating Northern California topped more than 368,000 acres, becoming the sixth-largest wildfire in state history over the weekend. It started in upper Bidwell Park near Chico, quickly spreading through Butte and Tehama counties.
The fire sparked last Wednesday, after a man allegedly pushed a burning car into a gully. Police arrested 42-year-old Ronnie Stout, a Chico resident, on suspicion of arson. The Park Fire would be the largest wildfire in California history caused solely by arson.
Here are the latest updates on the fire as of Monday morning:
How much did the Park Fire grow over the weekend?
The fire has grown roughly 170,000 acres in the last three days.
On Friday evening, the fire blasted past 200,000 acres. By Monday morning, it had grown to nearly 370,000 — which is roughly the size of Los Angeles.
It has burned more than 315,000 acres in Tehama County and nearly 53,000 acres in Butte County. Parts of Plumas and Shasta counties are under evacuation warnings, according to Cal Fire.
Park Fire map
Sources: U.S. Department of the Interior, IRWIN, FIRIS, NIFC, NASA, NOAA and Esri
It is burning mostly over an empty swath of the Sierra Nevada foothills. On Friday night and into Saturday, the fire crossed Highway 36 before crews could control the blaze headed east.
How much of Park Fire have firefighters contained?
Containment was at 0% on Friday. Monday morning, it sits at 12%.
Firefighters made progress on the Park Fire due to improved weather conditions on Saturday and Sunday.
Leading up to Saturday, the Park Fire burned aggressively, as winds and dry terrain triggered explosive fire growth, even creating a fire whirl Thursday night in Forest Ranch.
What’s next for Northern California fire weather?
More temperate weather has helped slow the flames. Cal Fire officials said Saturday’s subdued weather was because of a layer of smoke covering most of the area of the wildfire. Thick wildfire smoke can block sunlight and decrease temperatures, which allowed firefighters to combat the fire outside National Forest lands.
On Sunday, officials told The Sacramento Bee that weather looked “favorable,” and firefighters hoped to take advantage of the conditions to control the fire.
“They’re looking to go direct attack on some of the fire head,” said Jay Tracy, spokesman for Cal Fire.
Southwest winds and low moisture are expected on Monday, which could increase fire activity throughout the day.
Where could Park Fire spread next?
On the fire’s northern tier, there are high fuel loads, which could keep the fire moving, officials said Saturday.
“There are areas out there that have no fire history, a lot of dead and down (fuel), and a lot of logging slash,” said Cal Fire Battalion Chief Scott Weese.
In the days ahead, the mixture of dry grass and brush in Shasta County — similar to the conditions in Butte County where the fire began — could prove difficult for firefighters.
Over the weekend, officials said their top concern was the northern edge of the fire by Paynes Creek, a rural area in Tehama County with a population of nearly 40 people. But at a Sunday briefing, officials said they were making good progress there.
Cal Fire said it started to see increased fire activity with flames burning in the northeastern direction along the Highway 32 corridor on the eastern side of the Park Firm, as of Sunday afternoon. Those flames were moving into heavier vegetation northeast of the Butte Meadows area.
How many homes have been destroyed by Park Fire?
As of Saturday, at least 135 homes had been leveled by the fire, The Bee reported. That number is expected to increase, as teams work to assess damage.
Where have evacuations been issued?
Evacuations have been issued across Butte and Tehama counties, as well as parts of Plumas and Shasta counties.
By Saturday, only a few remained in Shingletown, in southern Shasta County with a population of about 2,000, as the Park Fire moved toward the area. The general store was functioning as a community and information center, offering food for people stopping amid the rush downhill.
Manager Seanna Baker said she closed up Friday to let her workers evacuate themselves but opened up the store Saturday morning.
“We’re staying open as long as we can,” she said. “I was born and raised here. We all have to stick together as a community.”
The Bee’s Ishani Desai, Ari Plachta, Daniel Hunt, Hanh Truong , Angela Rodriguez and Rosalio Ahumada contributed to this story.
