Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Firefighters Achieve 40% Containment of California's Park Fire, Fourth-Largest in State History
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 2 hours ago on
August 15, 2024

California's largest wildfire of the year, the Park Fire, is 40% contained after burning over 670 square miles and destroying 641 structures, with firefighters working to fully contain the blaze that began as suspected arson. (The Hotshot Wake Up/X)

Share

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

CHICO, Calif. — California’s largest wildfire so far this year was 40% contained Wednesday after scorching more than 670 square miles (1,735 square kilometers).

The massive Park Fire was allegedly started by arson on July 24 in a wilderness park outside the Central Valley city of Chico and spread northward with astonishing speed in hot and dry conditions, becoming California’s fourth-largest wildfire on record.

“There was minimal fire activity through the night,” Cal Fire said in its morning summary. “Firefighters are currently working on mop-up and tactical patrol operations to work towards containment and to prepare communities to be safe for repopulations.”

A large portion of the fire is within Lassen National Forest, where officials said it was remaining inside its existing perimeter.

Weather has been more favorable recently, with increases in relative humidity, the moisture that can help suppress fire.

More than 5,400 firefighters remained assigned to the blaze.

The fire primarily impacted two counties, Butte and Tehama, destroying 641 structures and damaging 52, according to Cal Fire.

An arson case is pending against a Chico man who was arrested after a burning car was seen being pushed into a gully, according to the Butte County district attorney’s office.

Other large fires currently burning in California have significant levels of containment, except for a blaze that erupted Aug. 9 in Six Rivers National Forest in the state’s northwest corner. The Boise Fire, named for a local creek, covered more than 11 square miles (28 square kilometers) Wednesday with zero containment.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

Unions Try to Protect Jobs in CA With a Bill to Limit Self-Service Checkouts

DON'T MISS

Canceling Subscriptions Could Get Easier Under New Biden Administration Rules

DON'T MISS

Brandon Aiyuk Appears at 49ers Practice as a Spectator as His ‘Hold in’ Enters a 4th Week

DON'T MISS

RIP Dan Olson, 79: Fresno Legend Helped Power the Fastest Drag Boats & Cars in the World

DON'T MISS

Police Identify Suspect in Break-in of Trump Campaign Office in Virginia

DON'T MISS

Gena Rowlands, Acting Powerhouse and Star of Movies by Her Director-Husband, John Cassavetes, Dies

DON'T MISS

Officials Probe Why Robbery Suspects Had Gun of Ex-LA Officer Involved in 2013 Shooting Spree

DON'T MISS

US Approves $20 Billion in Weapons Sales to Israel Amid Threat of Wider Middle East War

DON'T MISS

Judge Tells Google to Brace for Shakeup of Android App Store as Punishment for Running a Monopoly

DON'T MISS

Walmart Grows More Optimistic About 2024 as Bargains Prove a Powerful Lure for the Inflation Weary

UP NEXT

Canceling Subscriptions Could Get Easier Under New Biden Administration Rules

UP NEXT

Brandon Aiyuk Appears at 49ers Practice as a Spectator as His ‘Hold in’ Enters a 4th Week

UP NEXT

RIP Dan Olson, 79: Fresno Legend Helped Power the Fastest Drag Boats & Cars in the World

UP NEXT

Police Identify Suspect in Break-in of Trump Campaign Office in Virginia

UP NEXT

Gena Rowlands, Acting Powerhouse and Star of Movies by Her Director-Husband, John Cassavetes, Dies

UP NEXT

Officials Probe Why Robbery Suspects Had Gun of Ex-LA Officer Involved in 2013 Shooting Spree

UP NEXT

Judge Tells Google to Brace for Shakeup of Android App Store as Punishment for Running a Monopoly

UP NEXT

Walmart Grows More Optimistic About 2024 as Bargains Prove a Powerful Lure for the Inflation Weary

UP NEXT

Brewers Win to Snap 3-Game Skid and End Dodgers’ 5-Game Winning Streak

UP NEXT

US Shoppers Sharply Boosted Spending at Retailers in July Despite Higher Prices

RIP Dan Olson, 79: Fresno Legend Helped Power the Fastest Drag Boats & Cars in the World

46 mins ago

Police Identify Suspect in Break-in of Trump Campaign Office in Virginia

47 mins ago

Gena Rowlands, Acting Powerhouse and Star of Movies by Her Director-Husband, John Cassavetes, Dies

53 mins ago

Officials Probe Why Robbery Suspects Had Gun of Ex-LA Officer Involved in 2013 Shooting Spree

53 mins ago

US Approves $20 Billion in Weapons Sales to Israel Amid Threat of Wider Middle East War

56 mins ago

Judge Tells Google to Brace for Shakeup of Android App Store as Punishment for Running a Monopoly

1 hour ago

Walmart Grows More Optimistic About 2024 as Bargains Prove a Powerful Lure for the Inflation Weary

1 hour ago

Brewers Win to Snap 3-Game Skid and End Dodgers’ 5-Game Winning Streak

1 hour ago

US Shoppers Sharply Boosted Spending at Retailers in July Despite Higher Prices

1 hour ago

Schools Have Made Slow Progress on Record Absenteeism, With Millions of Kids Still Skipping Class

1 hour ago

Unions Try to Protect Jobs in CA With a Bill to Limit Self-Service Checkouts

When the industrial revolution erupted in 18th century Britain — replacing handwork with machinery in the manufacture of goods — many of the...

19 seconds ago

19 seconds ago

Unions Try to Protect Jobs in CA With a Bill to Limit Self-Service Checkouts

3 mins ago

Canceling Subscriptions Could Get Easier Under New Biden Administration Rules

23 mins ago

Brandon Aiyuk Appears at 49ers Practice as a Spectator as His ‘Hold in’ Enters a 4th Week

46 mins ago

RIP Dan Olson, 79: Fresno Legend Helped Power the Fastest Drag Boats & Cars in the World

47 mins ago

Police Identify Suspect in Break-in of Trump Campaign Office in Virginia

53 mins ago

Gena Rowlands, Acting Powerhouse and Star of Movies by Her Director-Husband, John Cassavetes, Dies

53 mins ago

Officials Probe Why Robbery Suspects Had Gun of Ex-LA Officer Involved in 2013 Shooting Spree

56 mins ago

US Approves $20 Billion in Weapons Sales to Israel Amid Threat of Wider Middle East War

MENU

CONNECT WITH US

Search

Send this to a friend