California | Ongoing fire becomes one of the largest in the state

(Chico) An uncontrollable fire in northern California has become in three days one of the largest ever recorded in this western state of the United States.

The Park Fire has already consumed more than 350,000 acres, making it the seventh-largest blaze in state history, the state’s Cal Fire agency said Saturday.

More than 4,000 people were evacuated near the small town of Chico, in a rural and mountainous area about 90 miles north of Sacramento, the state capital.

“The extreme conditions of this fire continue to present a challenge for firefighters,” the agency said on X. It is the most intense wildfire to hit California this summer.

For the moment, it is only 10% controlled, despite the efforts of 3,700 people, more than ten helicopters and several planes, according to figures updated by the agency.

“The Park Fire continued to burn very actively due to steep terrain and winds. […] which are causing a sharp increase,” Cal Fire said.

“There are numerous firefighting air tankers across the state flying suppression missions when conditions permit,” she added.

The agency said, however, that cooler and wetter weather is expected in the region.

The fire broke out Wednesday near Chico, Butte County, and within hours devastated a large area as well as neighboring Tehama County.

According to the latest information, 20 buildings were destroyed, revising downwards an initial estimate of 137 structures destroyed.

Figures that should change as the authorities are able to better assess the damage on the ground.

“Traumatic”

The fire generated a huge column of dense gray smoke that also reached neighboring states.

Police arrested a 42-year-old man suspected of starting the fire by pushing a burning car into a ravine.

Like other residents, Julia Yarbough watched her home burn to the ground. “This is what’s left of my house,” she told CBS, pointing to the blackened, still-smoldering debris.

This huge forest fire brings back painful memories for the inhabitants of the town of Paradise, located about fifteen kilometers from Chico, and where 85 people died in 2018 in the deadliest fire in California history.

Due to the rapid spread of the Park Fire, Paradise has been placed under an evacuation alert.

Ava Elsner, who experienced the 2018 fire, told CNN she was worried about her neighbors.

“I don’t want anyone else to go through this. It’s the most traumatic, terrifying, sad thing,” she told the TV station.

Repeated heat waves are a marker of global warming linked to climate change caused by humanity’s reliance on fossil fuels, scientists say.

In Oregon, the Durkee Fire, which broke out earlier this month, has burned nearly 650,000 acres and is about 50 percent contained, the state’s wildfire agency said.