A California man has been arrested and accused of starting the state’s largest wildfire of the year, which has burned over 71,000 acres near Chico. The man allegedly pushed a burning car into a gully, igniting the flames that grew into the Park fire. The fire is only 3% contained and evacuations have been ordered in Butte and Tehama counties.
The Park fire started in Upper Bidwell Park, a popular area for hiking and swimming, causing concern for nearby rural communities. Residents who have experienced previous deadly fire seasons, including the 2018 Camp fire that destroyed the nearby town of Paradise, are on edge.
Across North America, firefighters are battling wildfires in California, Washington, Oregon, and Canada as extreme heatwaves continue. In eastern Oregon, evacuation orders were lifted for the city of Huntington, while in northern California, fire personnel are focusing on evacuations and building containment lines ahead of the Park fire.
The US National Interagency Fire Center reported 84 uncontained large fires burning across the country, with evacuation orders in effect in multiple states. The Pacific northwest is experiencing an aggressive fire season due to dry conditions and record-breaking temperatures.
In Canada, wildfires near the town of Jasper have caused significant loss. The ongoing heatwave has increased the wildfire threat in both the US and Canada, with millions of acres of national forest lands at risk. Red Flag warnings and fire weather watches are in effect in multiple states, with low humidity and strong winds contributing to the dangerous conditions.
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