Park Fire update: Northern California blaze now 6th-largest wildfire in state history

Rosalio Ahumada
·6 min read
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Cooler temperatures over the weekend moderated flames and allowed firefighters to gain more containment on the Park Fire that has continued to grow and on Monday became the sixth-largest wildfire in California history.

The Park Fire, as of Monday morning, has burned a total of 368,256 acres (or 575 square-miles), and 12% of the wildfire had been contained, according to Cal Fire. The fire has burned more than 315,000 acres in Tehama County and nearly 53,000 acres in Butte County. The wildfire has also impacted areas in Plumas and Shasta counties.

“The fire stayed active well into the night, especially on the ridges and upper slopes,” according to a Cal Fire Monday morning situation summary. “During the early morning hours an increase in humidity caused the fire activity to moderate. Through the night, smoke blanketed the fire area, also causing some dampening of the activity.”

Southwest winds were expected on Monday, along with low moisture, Cal Fire officials said. That will be a factor in increased fire activity throughout the day.

Cal Fire reported the Park Fire had destroyed 109 structures and damaged five others since the wildfire started Wednesday afternoon in Upper Bidwell Park near Chico. The fire was still threatening about 4,200 other structures. No fatalities or injuries have been reported.

An Erickson Aero Tanker drops fire retardant on the Park Fire that on Monday July 29, 2024, became the became the sixth-largest wildfire in California history.
An Erickson Aero Tanker drops fire retardant on the Park Fire that on Monday July 29, 2024, became the became the sixth-largest wildfire in California history.

Thick wildfire smoke on Saturday and into Sunday morning blocked sunlight and lowered temperatures in the area, making it easier for firefighters to gain ground on the blaze. But some of that smoke had dissipated by Sunday afternoon.

“The sun’s come out, we’re starting to get some solar heating, and we’re also getting increased winds in the upper canyons,” Cal Fire Incident Commander Billy See said in a Sunday afternoon briefing. “We are experiencing some challenges along the (Highway) 32 corridor.”

Over the weekend, the Park Fire spread quickly through the Ishi Wilderness in the Lassen National Forest, about 20 miles east of the town of Red Bluff. Cal Fire officials said the cooler weather allowed firefighters the chance to actively combat the fire outside of the National Forest lands, aiming to safeguard communities.

Firefighters continued to engage offensively, when it’s safe to do so, on various parts of the fire to build direct containment line, reinforce containment lines and begin conduct “mop-up” to search for smoldering spots that could reignite, Cal Fire said.

Officials are using Fire Integrated Real-Time Intelligence System Program aircraft to assess the fire and map the acreage. The amount of acres burned is updated periodically.

On Monday, the Park Fire moved into the sixth spot for the 20 largest wildfires in California History. The Park Fire surpassed the LNU Lightning Complex Fire, which was caused by lightning and arson in August 2020, and burned 363,220 acres in Napa, Solano, Sonoma, Yolo, Lake and Colusa. The 2020 wildfire also caused sixth deaths and destroyed 1,491 structures, according to Cal Fire.

The August Complex Fire, which burned 1.032 million acres in Mendocino, Humboldt, Trinity, Tehama, Glenn, Lake and Colusa counties, is the largest in California history. The wildfire, which started in August 2020, led to one death and destroyed 935 structures.

The Park Fire is California’s largest wildfire in recorded history caused solely by arson. The wildfire started on Wednesday in Upper Bidwell Park, east of Chico.

Ronnie Stout, 42, of Chico was arrested on suspicion of arson. Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey said Stout on Wednesday afternoon pushed a burning car down a gully near Alligator Hole, a swimming hole at Upper Bidwell Park. Ramsey said the flames quickly spread and started the Park Fire.

Flames from the Park Fire climb an embankment northeast of Red Bluff in Tehama County, Calif., on Saturday. The 357,341-acre blaze was 12% contained Sunday owing largely to a brief break in hot, dry weather conditions, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
Flames from the Park Fire climb an embankment northeast of Red Bluff in Tehama County, Calif., on Saturday. The 357,341-acre blaze was 12% contained Sunday owing largely to a brief break in hot, dry weather conditions, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

Mark Brunton, Cal Fire operations Sections chief, called it “a good win for us” when describing firefighting efforts over the weekend to protect the small community of Paynes Creek in Tehama County. Paynes Creek has a population of nearly 40 people, according to the Census Reporter.

“The fire did burn across (Highway) 36 and threaten the community of Paynes Creek,” Brunton said during the Sunday afternoon briefing. “They had no other losses in there. They’re making good progress.”

Brunton said they started seeing on Sunday afternoon more increased fire activity with flames burning in northeastly direction along the Highway 32 corridor on the eastern side of the Park Fire. He said those flames were moving into heavier vegetation northeast of the Butte Meadows area.

“We have dozers, crews and engines and aircraft making a direct attack on that as best they can,” Brunton said. “It’s starting to move into some rugged terrain, heavy fuels (vegetation), which makes it more of a challenge for our folks to attack that.”

Park Fire map

Sources: U.S. Department of the Interior, IRWIN, FIRIS, NIFC, NASA, NOAA and Esri

Some evacuation warnings lifted, including Paradise

Though intense fire activity has continued, authorities on Monday morning lifted evacuations for several parts of Butte County, including the entire town of Paradise and portions of Magalia, due to reduced danger in those areas.

Evacuation warnings for zones 311, 313, 314, 315, and 316 in north Chico were lifted at 11:15 a.m., the Butte County Sheriff’s Office said. The Sheriff’s Office said the warning for Zone 283 south of Skyway in Magalia was lifted, while Zone 283 north of Skyway remains under a warning.

The town of Paradise in an 11:15 a.m. news release also said the townwide evacuation warning, which had been in effect since around 9:30 p.m. Friday, had also been lifted.

Paradise officials warned residents to remain cautious: “Residents should continue to be aware of their surroundings and check for updates on the Park Fire,” they wrote.

Health warning for ash from Park Fire

Butte County Public Health Officer Dr. David Canton on Saturday declared a local health emergency due to “hazardous material found in the ash and debris of structures burned in the Park Fire,” the county said in a news release.

The declaration gives the county access to programs removing toxic substances from burned properties, according to the news release. The county’s Board of Supervisors must ratify the declaration within one week.

The Bee’s Ishani Desai and Michael McGough contributed to this story.