Park Fire near Chico has torched 45,000 acres in 14 hours. Here's the latest

The Park Fire, already the largest wildfire in California this year, has burned over 71,000 acres in less than a day.

CalFire has issued evacuation orders and warnings across Butte and Tehama counties, some reaching Chico city limits. No fatalities have been reported. The cause of the fire, currently only 3% contained, is under active investigation.

Some communities are in immediate danger said Rick Carhart, public information officer with Cal Fire and the Butte County Fire Department. “Cohasset and Forest Ranch are under evacuation orders now, so the structures in those areas are in immediate threat and we're hopeful that everybody has heeded the evacuation orders.”

Please see the CalFire website for the latest fire perimeter maps and evacuation information.

Where in California is the Park Fire?

The blaze started at approximately 4 p.m. local time Wednesday near Upper Park Road in Upper Bidwell Park, east of Chico.

How big is the Park Fire?

According to CalFire this is the largest blaze in the state this year, currently at 71,489 acres and only 3% contained as of 1:30 p.m. local time Thursday. 2024's second largest fire is the Lake Fire near Santa Barbara which has burned at least 38,000 acres but is now 90% contained.

How many structures has the Park Fire destroyed?

The blaze as of Thursday afternoon destroyed four structures and left at least six firefighters injured, Cal Fire reported according to ABC News.

Butte County Sheriff's Department has ordered evacuations for rural foothill communities ncluding the town of Cohasset, which has a population of about 400.

Is there an evacuation center set up for the Park Fire?

An evacuation center was set up at Neighborhood Church, 2801 Notre Dame Blvd. in Chico.

Small animals can be taken to a shelter at 2279 Del Oro Ave., in Oroville, and large animals should be brought to Camelot Equestrian Park, 1985 Clark Road in Oroville.

Webcam shows Park Fire spreading rapidly in Butte County

In addition to unfavorable firefighting weather conditions — gusty winds and low humidity, this area has not had a fire in a number of years, Carhart said. “These two areas of Butte County are areas that we have been looking at for a while as being pretty threatening as far as having a big wildfire because there's essentially no fire history in the area so there's nothing in the past for a number of years that has burned off the undergrowth and the brush has just been growing which fuels fires making them much more dangerous.”

Park Fire burns over 45,000 acres in 14 hours

After weeks with temperatures in triple-digits the fire grew rapidly. “In well less than 12 hours the fire grew to 45,000 acres,” said Carhart. “Our first units at scene reported 4 to 5 acres. Next, we heard it was 50 and then all of a sudden it was 500, 6,400 acres and then I believe 4 hours after that it was 45,000.”

How did the Park Fire start?

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

“We've got investigators working on finding the origin and the cause of the fire as we speak,” Carhart said. According to the Chico Enterprise-Record, a 42-year-old man has been arrested under suspicion of committing arson by pushing a burning car into a gully.

First-responders are focused on evacuations and defensive measures including lines of containment utilizing bulldozers, fire crews and fire engines, according to CalFire. Additional personnel and resources, including air tankers are inbound from various areas across the state. It remains unclear how many structures have burned.

Carhart says there are an estimated 1,100 people working the fire.

Where is wildfire smoke and air quality at its worst?

Active fire, smoke and air quailty maps: Where is wildfire smoke and air quality at its worst?

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Park Fire map: See how big the Chico, California wildfire is