The largest wildfire currently burning in California has grown to over 350,000 acres. The Park Fire was started by a man in Chico who pushed a flaming vehicle into dried brush, causing the blaze to quickly spread due to hot temperatures, dry brush, and gusty winds. The fire has destroyed 134 structures and spread from Butte to Tehama County, but firefighters had it 10% contained as of Saturday.
Mandatory and recommended evacuations were in effect in the affected areas, and part of the Lassen National Forest was closed as a precaution. Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency for Butte, Tehama, and Plumas counties, making it easier for fire victims to replace lost identification and file for unemployment benefits. A grant from FEMA was secured to assist firefighters battling the Borel Fire in Kern County.
Fire weather watches and warnings were in effect for several states in the West, with 1.5 million people under a red flag warning for prime fire conditions. Experts believe climate change may be contributing to longer fire seasons, more intense blazes, and extreme weather.
Firefighters battling the Park Fire near Paradise, which was devastated by the Camp Fire in 2018, were aided by cooler temperatures, but heat could return before the weekend. Officials were hopeful that the progress in containing the fire, along with the cooler weather, would help defeat the blaze.
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