This post is no longer being updated. Please visit our Wildfire Updates page for the latest information on the Park Fire.
Last updated at 6:00 p.m. on 8/19
The Park Fire has been burning for nearly four weeks. It remains just under 430,000 acres and is 49% contained, according to the latest incident report at 3:06 p.m. It had been up to 53% earlier this afternoon.
Firefighters battling the extensive Park Fire faced challenging conditions on Saturday evening and Sunday morning due to strong wind gusts.
Despite these challenges, Cal Fire says they successfully expanded the areas under control.
Dan Collins, public information officer with Cal Fire Butte County, told NSPR today that themain goal is reaching full containment, but progress has been slow.
“It’s just the sheer size of the fire and the amount of work that there is in the fire footprint,” Collins said.
This week’s goal is what it has been the past few weeks.
“Get resources out there to continue with suppression, repair and also mopping up in hopes of achieving a higher percentage of containment,” Collins said.
According to Cal Fire’s latest incident report, low humidity levels are forecast through Wednesday, with mild to moderate overnight recoveries.
This week’s cooler weather will be helpful, but Collins said fire crews are aware of what could be ahead.
“The fall is when historically, when we get the big devastating fires historically speaking. But in the last 10 years, 15 years we’ve been seeing them in June, July and August,” Collins said. “But the fall is when we tend to get busy in California generally speaking.”
Collins says the Santa Ana winds also start in the fall. That means firefighting support could decrease if multiple large fires spark across the state around the same time.
Last updated at 5:30 p.m on 8/16
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Favorable weather conditions this week have aided firefighters in significantly increasing containment of the Park Fire.
The latest update from Cal Fire indicates that the fire is now 49% contained, burning 429,263 acres across Butte and Tehama counties, including 113,744 acres in the Lassen National Forest.
Effective this morning, Cal Fire Incident Management Team 3 is winding down its operations on the Park Fire.
Over the course of the next few days, Cal Fire Incident Management Team 4 will undertake the transition of fire management responsibilities to Cal Fire Incident Management Team 6, who will officially assume command on Monday.
Last updated at 5 p.m. on 8/15
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Progress on the Park Fire continues. The fire is now 45% contained.
Cal Fire reports that the weather remains helpful to containment. Fire crews have seen good low overnight humidities through the night.
The agency reports that crews are continuing to work on suppression repair, mitigate smoldering materials and remove hazards, as well as respond to public service calls.
On the northern part of the fire, firefighters are working to keep the fire within the perimeter of the control lines.
Weather conditions are expected to be similar to the past few days, which will continue to aid crews in their efforts.
Officials have been asking the public to be sure to drive safely in areas near the burn scar due to numerous firefighting vehicles on roadways.
A local assistance center opened for Tehama County residents today. The center will be open for three days at the Red Bluff Community Center, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Aug. 15, 16, and 17.
Another local assistance center for Butte County residents remains open in Chico at the former 99 Cents Only store in North Valley Plaza until Aug. 17.
Last updated at 5 p.m. on 8/14
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Minimal fire activity continues on the Park Fire.
Cal Fire says crews continue to work on mop-up and tactical patrol operations to reach containment and get communities prepared for repopulation.
As progress continues to be made on the Park Fire, officials are focusing their messaging on staying safe when returning to areas impacted by the fire.
Tehama County Sheriff David Kain says there’s a message he’s been repeating to the public nearly every day — to drive safely.
“There’s still fire apparatus working. There are road crews working in the area and we just want everyone no matter who you are to drive appropriately,” he said at a press conference yesterday.
Kain said officials will take necessary enforcement actions if people aren’t “driving in a proper way.”
Crews are working to mitigate smoldering materials, subdue spot fires, remove hazards, and conduct repairs. They’re also continuing to improve fire lines to prevent any potential flare-ups.
Weather conditions have mostly been helpful.
Cal Fire reports a slight increase in winds over the north part of the region today. The agency says moderate to good humidity recovery is expected this week.
A local assistance center will open for Tehama County residents tomorrow. The center will be open for three days at the Red Bluff Community Center, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Aug. 15, 16, and 17.
Another local assistance center for Butte County residents remains open in Chico at the former 99 Cents Only store in North Valley Plaza until Aug. 17.
Last updated at 5:00 p.m. on 8/13
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Increased humidity levels have helped keep activity on the Park Fire restrained.
More than 5,000 personnel continue to work on the fire. Mop-up and tactical patrol operations are continuing.
Cal Fire reports that firefighters will continue working directly to mitigate any potential spot fires that may arise near roadways.
Despite progress, the Mill Creek drainage area and surrounding areas within the fire’s footprint remain areas of concern.
Multiple evacuation orders and warnings are still in effect. However, Tehama County Sheriff David Kain said in a press conference this afternoon that cooperative weather patterns over the last few days have helped reduce some orders to warnings.
Kain encourages the public to drive safely in fire areas and exercise caution while operating vehicles. This is because there are still fire apparatus and road crews working in the vicinity.
“We just want everyone, no matter who you are, to drive appropriately,” he said. “We will be in the area, still working, and we will take appropriate enforcement actions if necessary.”
Kain reminded the public that a local assistance center is opening for Tehama County residents this week. The center will be open for three days at the Red Bluff Community Center, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Aug. 15, 16, and 17.
Another local assistance center for Butte County residents remains open in Chico at the former 99 Cents Only store in North Valley Plaza until Aug. 17.
The Park Fire containment increased to 39% at more than 429,200 acres.
Last updated at 5:00 p.m. on 8/12
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The Park Fire continues to inch toward containment. The fire is now 38% contained at more than 429,200 acres.
Firefighters are still building lines to stop the fire in some areas and cleaning up and fixing damage from the fire in others.
The weather is steadily improving, with temperatures gradually decreasing and humidity levels rising. For the most part, these trends are expected to persist throughout the week.
However, Tom Schuldt, incident meteorologist for the fire, told firefighters today that winds are expected to pick up this afternoon with a chance of unstable air that could enhance the smoke column.
“You may not notice any changes at the surface, but at 15,000 feet and above, that instability is going to be lurking there,” Schuldt said.
Schuldt says calmer conditions and better overnight recoveries are expected.
“I really want to emphasize though, this afternoon it’s going to be breezier than it was yesterday, and we are going to have that instability that’s gonna be lurking aloft,” he said. “If something’s gonna happen the next few days, it’s going to be today. So do not get complacent.”
Close to 6,000 personnel continue to help with the fire that started in Upper Bidwell Park in Chico on July 24.
The fire has been burning for nearly three weeks, and firefighters are working nonstop.
Josh Kitchens, safety officer for the fire, told crews not to let their guard down.
“A lot of us have been running from fire to fire for the past few months. We’ve been on this fire for a while now. Day to day, same dirt, same ground, same tasks, it’s easy to get complacent when we’re doing mop up and suppression repair,” he said.
Kitchens warned that fatigue, stress, and prior successes can all lead to carelessness.
“Today, I want you to go out and take a tactical pause,” Kitchens said. “Evaluate yours and your crew's abilities. And be honest with yourselves of what that current level of ability is. With that, go out and look up at the hazard trees, look down at the ash pits, and look around when you’re driving.”
Cal Fire reports that around 657 structures have been destroyed and 49 have been damaged. No injuries have been reported.
Currently, there are no more evacuation orders or warnings in Butte County. In Tehama County, various evacuation orders have been reduced to evacuation warnings.
Last updated at 4 p.m. on 8/8
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Containment on the Park Fire remains the same as the fire continues to grow. Cal Fire expects weather conditions and fire activity on the Park Fire to be similar to how they have been over the past few days. The fire has burned 427,067 acres and is 34% contained.
The agency has made significant progress on the fire in Butte County. The Butte County Sheriff’s Office lifted all remaining evacuation warnings in the county this afternoon.
Ground and air resources are engaging aggressively in firefighting efforts in the Mill Creek area. During its incident update this morning, the agency reported there was lots of spotting in that area, just below the town of Mineral.
More than 6,000 personnel are currently working on the fire. More than two million pounds of fire retardant has been used to fight the blaze.
Crews have also been helping to repopulate Forest Ranch and to put out any hotspots detected there. Cal Fire said no new spot fires have been found near Highway 32.
Many evacuation orders and warnings have been downgraded. Some remain in place in Tehama, Shasta, and Plumas counties. All orders in Butte have been lifted.
Two community meetings for those affected by the Park Fire are scheduled for tomorrow evening. One meeting will be in Red Bluff in the Tehama County Board of Supervisors chambers. The other will be in Chester at the community fire department. Both meetings are scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
Last updated at 4:30 p.m. on 8/7
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Hot and dry conditions have made it challenging for firefighters working to contain the Park Fire. According to the latest Cal Fire incident report, the fire has burned 422,924 acres and is 34% contained.
The fire saw increased activity this week with uphill runs and intense fire behavior, according to Cal Fire. Officials expect it to continue to move North and East and to burn up slopes with critically dry vegetation. Warmer, arid temperatures and cloudless skies contributed to this behavior. The fire was particularly active in areas close to Mill Creek.
More than 6,600 personnel are assigned to the fire.
Current evacuation warnings and orders
There are still evacuation orders and warnings in Butte, Tehama, Shasta, and Plumas Counties.
Some evacuation warnings have been upgraded in the area east of Mill Creek due to increased activity there and difficulty fighting the fire.
Repopulation is occurring in some areas near the lower portion of the fire. Cal Fire asks residents to remain diligent as crews and equipment continue to work in those areas.
Update on damaged and destroyed structures
Cal Fire reports that 636 structures have been destroyed and 49 have been damaged. Around 5,000 structures are still threatened.
The agency shared a database where residents can view the status of homes and businesses in the burn scar. Residents should keep in mind that the fire is still burning and continues to threaten homes.
Last updated at 1 p.m. on 8/6
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The Park Fire continues to actively burn at 414,042 acres and is 34% contained, according to Cal Fire this morning.
The agency reports the Mill Creek drainage area is particularly challenging. Anyone remaining in the area yesterday was ordered to leave immediately. The canyon there is rugged and steep and officials say crews are having an aggressive firefight there.
The area contains some of the last old-growth conifer trees in the region. The fire is also threatening several endangered species of fish that spawn there.
Elsewhere on the fire, evacuation warnings were also issued for some zones in Plumas County today. But firefighting efforts on most other areas of the fire’s perimeter have brought positive news.
Tehama County has been able to lift or downgrade many of its evacuations in recent days.
Recovery efforts underway in Butte, Tehama counties
Tehama County Sheriff David Kain said his office is working hard to get people home and they’re starting to turn to helping people recover from the fire.
“Our sheriff’s office is sponsoring a local assistance center” Kain said during a press conference.
The center will be open for three days at the Red Bluff Community Center. Hours will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Aug. 15, 16 and 17.
Kain said the assistance center would include local departments, PG&E, the Department of Motor Vehicles, the Franchise Tax Board and other organizations.
Butte County opened a local assistance center in Chico on Monday. It’s located in the North Valley Plaza in the building that was formerly the 99 Cents Only store.
Weather on the upcoming days
A change in the weather on the Park Fire has officials warning Tehama County residents to remain vigilant.
Temperatures continue to be hot, and it’s also dry throughout the day, with primary growth extending toward the northern and eastern directions.
Dusty Martin, Unified Incident Commander on the fire, said hotter temperatures, low relative humidity, and winds have produced more fire activity.
"Be ready, if the conditions change, to evacuate if you're called upon," Martin said. "If you're in a warning area, please be ready to evacuate if the sheriff's department comes in. Have your belongings ready.”
Many areas in Tehama County are starting to be repopulated. But officials say residents should not let their guard down and continue to follow updates about the fire.
Last updated at 3:30 p.m. on 8/2
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The Park Fire has burned over 399,000 acres and is 24% contained, as of the latest CAL FIRE update around 11 a.m.
It is now the fourth-largest wildfire recorded in California history. The fire has burned 344,630 acres in Tehama County and 52,999 acres in Butte County.
Cal Fire reports that crews have completed nearly 90% of their damage assessment report for the burn scar. Between both counties, there are 542 destroyed structures and 50 damaged structures. Almost 7,000 homes and buildings remained threatened by the blaze.
The fire continues to burn very actively. High winds and critically low fuel moisture have made it difficult for the agency to suppress it.
Mark Brennan, a spokesperson for Cal Fire, said the ravine in the Mill Creek area has been especially difficult because of the steep terrain and smoke.
“There’s been fire deep into that drainage,” he said. “It’s a huge drainage and it’s one that’s had a lot of smoke cover on it so we’ve not been able to get air assets in, ground assets. It’s just been very difficult terrain.”
Cal Fire Meteorologist Jeff Tonkin told firefighters that last night was one of the driest nights they’ve seen in recent days, reporting near-record low moisture levels.
Tonkin added that there is a chance for thunderstorms in the region, but it shouldn’t affect the area where the Park Fire is burning.
Last updated at 4:30 p.m. on 8/1
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Additional crews from Utah and Texas arrived to help with the Park Fire. Cal Fire reports that the fire has been particularly active in the northeastern sector.
According to the agency’s latest incident report this afternoon, damage assessment teams have finished 85% of their inspection. They reported 483 destroyed structures and 47 damaged structures.
Areas of issue for the fire
Operation section chief Mark Brunton said that although some progress was made in controlling the fire in certain areas, they still face many challenges.
Moving down the Highway 32 corridor presents a significant challenge for firefighters due to its topography. The heavy fuels and challenging access make installing a direct line in that area difficult.
"That's just a lot of work, and it's going to be long, painstaking work in that area," Brunton said.
Also, ground personnel have not been able to work in the Mill Creek area due to heavy smoke. With the weather conditions changing, the fire started to increase within the last hour.
Weather concerns over the weekend
Critical fire weather conditions are expected over the next few days.
In a Park Fire briefing this morning, Jeff Tonkin, a meteorologist with the U.S. Forest Service, said temperatures today were around 100 degrees along the fire’s perimeter and relative humidity values dropped to about 15-20%.
“Those are numbers that we haven’t seen since the other week when the fire was really rockin’ and rollin’,” he said.
There is also a potential for thunderstorms and strong winds over the weekend. Increasing winds could accelerate the fire in Deer Creek and Mill Creek canyons in Lassen National Forest.
To view an evacuation map for Butte County, click here.
For other evacuation maps just click each county: Shasta, Tehama, Plumas. The list of evacuation orders and warnings can also be found here.
Last updated at 9:00 p.m. on 7/31
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Currently, the largest fire burning in California, the Park Fire has slowed down, but continues to grow each day. It’s now less than 6,000 acres away from surpassing the SCU Lightning Complex, which is currently the fourth-largest fire in California history.
The Park Fire is now 391,200 acres in size with 18% containment.
Fire behavior stable but challenges lie ahead
The fire remains very active at multiple locations around the perimeter. Smoke levels are expected to increase.
Cal Fire Incident Management Team III Operation Section Chief Mark Brent says the fire behavior did not increase significantly today, which was a positive development.
Resources were able tocontinue the suppression operation. However, moving toward the Highway 36 corridor, the agency says it’s facing challenges with the landscape..
“Going through some of the terrain is very difficult, very dangerous areas for firefighters, not only with the fire, but also the steep rugged terrain,” Brent said.
That, paired with a forecast of triple-digit temperatures and possible thunderstorms, is cause for concern. Considering the resources available, if other fires break out in California, there is a potential for more intense fire behavior. Brent said preparations are underway to address the challenges.
“We have contingency plans in place and plans to bring additional resources in,” he said
Five taskforces of engines from the state of Texas are currently in California. They will be briefed within the next 24 hours. They will then be directly utilized on the line. Additionally, resources from the states of Nevada, North Dakota, and Utah will be arriving throughout the days.
Shasta County declares local emergency
This afternoon, the Shasta County Board of Supervisors approved Sheriff Michael Johnson's declaration of a local emergency.
This declaration means that the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) and additional allied agencies are mobilized to assist the county, if needed.
Cal OES and other agencies are preparing to help out the county if the fire poses more danger.
The fire has not crossed Shasta County lines but continues to threaten structures and infrastructure in four North State counties.
Last updated at 3:30 p.m. on 7/31
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The Park Fire continues to threaten communities across several North State counties.
Cal Fire reports that the fire has burned 389,791 acres and is 18% contained. In Butte County, the fire has burned 52,764 acres, and in Tehama County, it has burned 337,027 acres.
Fire weather conditions
Cal Fire reports the fire is continuing to burn actively.
It has been spreading rapidly due to extremely dry vegetation and strong winds, which are making it difficult for firefighters to contain the fire.
Today winds are blowing in a southwest direction. Wind speeds are expected to drop by about 5 miles per hour with gusts reaching up to 15 miles per hour.
Warmer temperatures are returning this week, and there is also potential for thunderstorms.
Damage inspection crews update their report
The damage inspection teams have finished inspecting about 75% of the area.
Inspectors reported 361 destroyed structures and 36 damaged structures from the Park Fire. The fire still threatens around 4,200 structures.
Last updated at 06:30 p.m. on 7/30
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The Park Fire continues to burn in four North State counties and has now become the fifth-largest wildfire in California's recorded history.
According to the latest updates from Cal Fire, the fire has burned at least 386,764 acres with 14% containment, as of this afternoon.
The agency reports nearly 5,600 personnel are assigned to the incident including 90 hand crews, 497 engines, 170 dozers and 115 water tenders.
You can stay up-to-date with evacuations for Butte County here.
For other evacuation maps just click each county: Shasta, Tehama, Plumas. The list of evacuation orders and warnings can also be found here.
Damage assessment
Cal Fire Incident Management Incident Commander Billy See said at a news conference that there are teams in the field surveying the entire perimeter and interior of this incident. Currently, in Butte County, 55% of the assessment has been completed, which includes 682 inspections.
“We've had 139 destroyed structures, which include 87 single family dwellings,” See said. “There is a 76% survival rate of all structures within Butte County that has been assessed thus far.”
In Tehama County, 75% of the perimeter has been inspected. There have been 55 damaged or destroyed structures, which include a total of 29 single-family dwellings.
Air quality advisories
Numerous counties have sent out air quality advisories amidst the Park Fire.
In Butte County, the air quality management district and public health issued a joint Air Quality Advisory to inform the public about wildfire smoke impacts due to the Park Fire.
Tehama County’s air pollution control district issued an advisory on yesterday in regards to the potential wildfire smoke impact due to the fire. The county says the smoke ranges from "moderate" to "very unhealthy" across the county.
Also, Shasta County’s air pollution control district sent out a press release today, informing residents to be aware of potential smoke impacts due to multiple wildfires burning in Northern California.
The press release sayss the eastern Shasta County communities of Shingletown, Old Station, Burney and Fall River Mills will experience a greater smoke impact.
Last updated at 11:30 a.m. 7/30
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As reported by Cal Fire, the Park Fire currently stands at 14% contained, encompassing an area of 383,619 acres as of 7:59 a.m. on Tuesday, July 30.
It's now the largest fire in the nation and one of the largest in California's history burning 53,104 acres in Butte County and 330,515 in Tehama County.
Progress and plan for the day
The fire remains very active. Steep terrain has been challenging for firefighters.
Cal Fire reports that critically low fuel moisture and high winds made suppressing the fire's spread difficult. Today winds are expected to slow down a slightly.
The agency reports the southern part of the fire saw a flare-up of activity late in the day yesterday due to clearer skies and longer-burning fuels in the area.
Damage assessment
Cal Fire has completed just over half of its damage assessment and reports 192 homes and other buildings have been destroyed and 19 structures are damaged.
More than 4,000 structures remained threatened by the Park Fire.
Evacuation and warnings
Yesterday, more evacuations were issued in Tehama, Shasta and Plumas counties in the late afternoon.
The same day, the Butte County Sheriff’s Office announced many evacuation downgrades for the Park Fire.
Evacuation orders for the Forest Ranch areas were downgraded to warnings.
All evacuation warnings for the town of Paradise have been lifted. Warnings were also lifted for areas south of the Skyway in Magalia and in north Chico.
Residents can return home in these areas but are advised to be aware of their surroundings.
To view an evacuation map for Butte County, click here.
For other evacuation maps just click each county: Shasta, Tehama, Plumas. The list of evacuation orders and warnings can also be found here.
Last updated at 1:30 p.m. on 7/29
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Firefighters took advantage of improved weather conditions over the weekend to strengthen containment lines on the Park Fire.
According to the latest update from Cal Fire this afternoon, the Park Fire has burned 370,237 acres and is 12% contained.
Evacuations lifted in Paradise, north Chico and parts of Magalia
The Butte County Sheriff’s Office was able to lift many evacuations for the fire today. All evacuation warnings were lifted for the town of Paradise and for the areas south of Skyway in Magalia.
Zone 283 north of Skyway remains under an evacuation warning. Several warnings have also been lifted in north Chico.
Residents can return home in these areas but are advised to be aware of their surroundings.
Priorities on the fire
Butte County’s Fire Chief Garrett Sjolund said that firefighters in Butte County are focused on Butte Meadows today.
“The fire is hung up in some timber as we head up towards Butte Meadows … our priority here in Butte County is buttoning that up,” he said.
He expressed confidence in the work completed around Upper Bidwell Park and along Highway 32.
“People in Chico have nothing to worry about,” Sjolund said. “They're all good, continue life as normal as they can.”
Arraignment of Ronnie Dean Stout II
The arraignment for a Chico man arrested in connection with starting the fire is scheduled for 3 p.m. today.
Ronnie Dean Stout II was arrested Thursday morning by the Cal Fire arson investigators on suspicion of starting the Park Fire. Stout is suspected of pushing a burning car into a ravine.
Last updated at: 6:15 p.m. on 7/26
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The Park Fire is now prompting evacuations in Shasta County and Plumas County. This is in addition to Tehama and Butte counties, which means the fire is now covering four counties in the North State.
Shasta and Plumas
In Shasta County, all evacuation zones for the Manton area are now under an evacuation warning. In Shingletown, zone 5070-A is now under an evacuation warning as well.
Zone 40 in Plumas County is now under an evacuation warning.
Butte and Tehama
Separately in Butte County, evacuations were also recently issued for the communities of Inskip, Stirling City, and Magalia due to the fire.
If you’re under an evacuation warning and you have large animals or need extra time to evacuate, officials say you should leave before an order is issued.
Officials are asking those who are under an evacuation order to leave immediately.
The fire remains very active. A Red Flag Warning is still in effect due to gusty winds and low humidity.
Last updated at 4:45 p.m. on 7/26
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The Park Fire, now the most extensive wildfire in California's history, continues to force evacuations in Butte and Tehama counties and has burned about 180,000 acres with little to no containment.
Multiple evacuation orders were issued for Tehama County today.
In Butte County, the entire community of Forest Ranch was also put under an evacuation order today, which is particularly concerning. All of Cohasset also remains under an evacuation order.
Some evacuation warnings remain for the town of Paradise. Butte Creek Canyon is also under an evacuation warning. Warnings extend beyond Butte Meadows as far as the Philbrook area.
The fire began in Upper Bidwell Park, northeast of Chico, at around 3 p.m. Wednesday. Firefighters are currently using various strategies and equipment to combat the blaze while coordinating with law enforcement to implement evacuation orders and road closures.
Where the fire stands
Cal Fire Incident Commander Chief Billy See says the fire is growing extremely to the north and through Tehama County, between 4,000 and 5,000 acres per hour.
“We have approximately 1,700 personnel on the ground fighting this fire, at this point, with several hundred others on order and still inbound to the incident itself,” Chief See said.
After an aerial survey, there was extensive damage and structural destruction within the incident's perimeter, totaling 134 structures. Another aerial survey will take place Friday night.
They are currently looking at areas of opportunity on what can be done to prevent the fire from crossing Highway 36.
"We're in preparation on how we're going to widen and improve that area so we can keep it from moving farther north at this time," See said.
He says there will be some dramatic weather increases starting this weekend with cooler temperatures and increased relative humidities, which will provide better access into the perimeter itself.
Paradise residents
The town of Paradise currently has three zones under an evacuation warning.
Honea says many residents might consider alternative routes, such as going up the Skyway through Magalia and over to Butte Meadows, but strongly advised against this.
"The problem with that is you will be going into an area that is likely impacted by fire and already under an evacuation order. So, if there is a need to evacuate from Paradise, we need you to first evacuate utilizing one of the three main roads out of Paradise -- Skyway, Clark or Pentz. Do not go up the Skyway because you're going to be heading into a more dangerous situation."
Residents are advised to check for road closures before going out on the road. Critical road closures can be found at buttecounty.net. Look for the black banner at the top of the page.
Last updated at 10:10 a.m. on 7/26
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Due to the Park Fire, new evacuations have been issued for parts of Forest Ranch and Magalia. The fire has now burned more than 164,000 acres, making it the largest fire in California.
Zones 263 and 264 in Forest Ranch are now under an evacuation order. Also, Zones 281 and 283 in Magalia are now under an evacuation warning. Click here to find your zone.
As of early Friday morning, Cal Fire is reporting that the fire no longer has any containment, indicating that fire crews no longer have a control line established around the fire’s perimeter, which is necessary to prevent further spread.
The agency is also now reporting the number of structures destroyed. It states that 134 residences and other buildings were confirmed to have been lost in the fire, with 4,000 structures remaining threatened.
The fire area remains under a Red Flag Warning due to gusty winds and low humidity. The National Weather Service issued the warning yesterday morning for much of Northern California, including Butte and Tehama counties, areas where the Park Fire is currently active.
A Red Flag Warning has been issued for northern/central Sacramento Valley, and adjacent foothills/mountains from 1 PM this afternoon through 11 PM Friday for gusty southerly winds and low relative humidity. Practice fire weather safety! #CAwx pic.twitter.com/uf5XnqA1Zc
— NWS Sacramento (@NWSSacramento) July 25, 2024
Widespread evacuations remain in place in Butte and Tehama counties.
Last updated at 11:40 a.m. on 7/25
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It looks like photos spreading on social media may be true. The Park Fire was likely started by a man who pushed a burning car into a gully in Upper Bidwell Park.
This morning, a 42-year-old male resident of Chico was apprehended by Cal Fire arson investigators on suspicion of initiating the Park Fire.
According to a press release from the Butte County District Attorney’s Office, the individual was seen pushing a car that was on fire near Alligator Hole. It reportedly went down an embankment, became engulfed in flames and started the fire.
A person nearby saw the incident, took photos of the man, and reported the incident to law enforcement. They then posted the photos and their experience on social media, where the footage has been circulated widely.
The press release said the man’s name will be released later this afternoon. A warrant was issued by a local judge, and the man was arrested and booked into the Butte County Jail.
The DA’s office says the investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is being asked to call Cal Fire Investigations at 530-538-7888.
Last updated at 10:45 a.m. on 7/25
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About 4,000 people remain evacuated from the Park Fire in Butte County, according to the Butte County Sheriff’s Office, which has been issuing evacuations due to the fire through the night
The Tehama County Sheriff's Office is also continuing to issue new evacuations this morning due to the fire.
The fire quickly exploded yesterday afternoon, growing to 45,550 acres by this morning. It's 3% contained, according to the latest update from Cal Fire.
Widespread evacuations remain in place for the communities of Cohasset and Forest Ranch, which are both at very high risk of wildfire and have been top of mind for officials for years.
Many residents in Chico were up most of the night, as the Sheriff’s Office issued evacuations for parts of the city. The Tehama County Sheriff’s Office also issued several evacuations for areas near the Butte County line.
‘Whole area of the fire’ a concern
Hot, dry, windy conditions have led to the quick growth of the fire, but Dan Collins, fire captain and public information officer with Cal Fire and the Butte County Fire Department said it also moved into areas that have seen little fire in recent years. He said that was a significant factor to the fire’s growth.
He said one of the biggest challenges for firefighters has been the intense heat. Another is the accessibility of certain areas of the fire.
“There's not a lot of road systems, or areas to get in and get direct with that,” he said “So we're utilizing reconnaissance planes and bulldozers to kind of open up from some roads, containment lines, so we can get some resources in there.”
Collins said the “whole area of the fire” is of concern today. He said fire personnel continue to be focused on evacuations and structure defense while building direct containment lines.
“Once resources arrived, because again, people are en route from all over to come support the operations, they will be inserted into the areas of the most critical need,” he said.
Cohasset efforts
With Cohasset only having one main road out of the fire, Collins said a significant emphasis was placed on evacuations and structural defense within the community.
Collins says that Sierra Pacific Industries provided assistance to residents.
“They were able to open up some of their private roads and assist in the evacuations, kind of getting the resources out, alternatively out of Cohasset,” Collins said. “They were tremendous help to us. They're loggers and their personnel assisted tremendously with getting folks kind of out the back way through their land.”
More updates from today
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is providing fire management assistance for the Park Fire. California submitted the request when the fire was around 6,000 acres. At that time, the fire was threatening over 1,000 homes in the Cohasset and Richardson Springs area.
FEMA reports 15 other large fires burning uncontrolled in California. The assistance will cover up to 75% of eligible firefighting costs.
Last updated at 9:45 p.m. on 7/24
We are no longer updating this section of the article. Please refer to the latest information above.
Widespread evacuations are in place due to a fire that started in Upper Bidwell Park in Chico this afternoon. The fire currently stands at more than 1,500 acres, according to Cal Fire.
The entire community of Cohasset is currently under an evacuation order.
Most of Forest Ranch is under an evacuation warning. Both are at very high risk of wildfire and have been top of mind for officials for years.
Another concern about Cohasset is it only has one main road to get in and out.
In a live YouTube video about the fire, Zeke Lunder, a North State fire analyst and founder of The Lookout, said there’s likely still a lot of people in the community.
“The open question is whether or not they'll be able to get people down out of there. Cohasset has no secondary access that's paved. There's dirt logging roads to go out the top and make their way back to Highway 32 eventually, but there's no secondary paved access roads out of Cohasset,” Lunder said.
Cohasset was one of the first areas to have evaluations issued. Rick Carhart, public information officer for Cal Fire and the Butte County Fire Department told NSPR a little after 6 p.m. that at the point the fire wasn’t near Cohasset, but it was moving in that direction.
“We're just trying to make sure that we give everybody as much advance warning as we can … so that people aren't having to just really like panic when they finally are told [they] have to leave,” Carhart said. “We're trying to get it done nice and early.”
Several evacuation zones in the Upper Bidwell Park area of Chico are also under an order, as well as several zones in Tehama County.
Northbound traffic along Eaton and Cohasset roads has been shut down due to the ongoing incident. Officials ask that residents avoid the area if possible.
More about the Park Fire
Cal Fire and the Chico Fire Department are unified command on the fire. The Butte County Sheriff’s Office is issuing evacuations.
Carhart said the agency has had significant resources on the fire since this afternoon, including fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, fire engines and water tenders. Aircraft have been making retardant and water drops on the fire.
“The helicopters have a pretty quick turnaround because they're able to just come right over the ridge and down and get water out of Horseshoe Lake in Upper Bidwell Park,” Carhart said.
He said conditions have been windy with a significant amount of steady wind coming from the south.
“Any kind of a wind on fire, that's one of the biggest drivers of the movement and the growth and the spread of a wildland fire is when the wind gets on it,” Carhart said.
Record-breaking hot weather this month has caused dangerously dry conditions. Carhart said this can cause quick changes in the fire’s direction.
“It’s just so dry that pretty much everything that a spark touches is catching on fire right now,” Carhart said.
Carhart stressed that residents should stay apprised of the fire and monitor the situation. He said to keep an eye on information from the Butte County Sheriff’s Office and his agency.
“If your zone is under an evacuation order, we urge everybody to get out as quickly as possible and not try to stick around,” Carhart said.
Officials are also asking all residents to make sure they know their evacuation zone.
Links to follow to stay updated
- Butte County Sheriff’s Office evacuation zone map
- Butte County Sheriff's Office Twitter
- Butte County Sheriff's Office Facebook
- Cal Fire Butte Unit/Butte County Fire Department Twitter
- Cal Fire Butte Unit/Butte County Fire Department Facebook
- Butte County website (contains information during emergencies)
Evacuation centers
- Neighborhood Church - 2801 Notre Dame Boulevard in Chico
- Small animal shelter - 2279 Del Oro in Oroville
- Large animal shelter - Camelot Equestrian Park in Oroville.