Forest Ranch, California, was hit by a massive wildfire that has become the state’s largest this year, destroying buildings and threatening thousands of residents. The Park fire started in Chico and quickly spread across Butte and Tehama counties, fueled by strong winds and hot weather.
By Friday evening, the fire had burned 239,000 acres and spread to Plumas and Shasta counties. Residents of Forest Ranch were ordered to evacuate as the flames posed an extreme danger to the community. The fire, which has grown rapidly, forced thousands to flee and destroyed over 130 buildings.
Authorities are struggling to contain the fire, which is spreading at a rate of 4,000 to 5,000 acres per hour. Two people have been injured, and many more are at risk as the fire continues to grow. The situation has left the region on edge, with memories of previous devastating wildfires resurfacing.
In addition to the Park fire, wildfires are raging across North America, including in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. Firefighters are working around the clock to contain the blazes, which have been fueled by record-breaking heatwaves. Air-quality alerts are in effect in several states due to wildfire smoke, and the National Weather Service has issued fire weather watch warnings for critical fire conditions in Utah.
As of Friday morning, the National Interagency Fire Center reported 96 large active wildfires burning across the country, with over 1.6 million acres already scorched. The fires, exacerbated by global heating, have caused widespread devastation and forced thousands to evacuate their homes.
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