Wildfire Forces 4,000 to Evacuate in Northern California

A massive, fast-spreading wildfire in northern California has forced over 4,000 people to evacuate as firefighters contend with strong winds and extremely dry conditions, authorities reported Friday.

The Park Fire, fueled by a severe heatwave, is the most intense wildfire to hit California this summer. By Friday night, it had already consumed nearly 240,000 acres (97,000 hectares) and continues to grow rapidly.

“This fire has been expanding at a rate of 4,000 to 5,000 acres per hour,” incident commander Billy See said during a press conference.

As of now, the fire is “zero percent” contained despite the efforts of about 1,700 firefighters, with additional resources on the way, according to Cal Fire.

The evacuation has affected the towns of Cohasset and Forest Ranch, with an additional 400 people evacuated from the small city of Chico. The blaze has destroyed 134 structures so far, though Butte County Fire Chief Garrett Sjolund noted that many more have been saved.

“This fire is challenging our strategies, but we are deploying our resources effectively,” Sjolund told reporters.

Starting near Chico in Butte County on Wednesday, the fire quickly spread to neighboring Tehama County, becoming the 20th largest fire in California history by land area in just two days.

The blaze has produced a massive column of dense, grey smoke, with storm-like clouds visible in nearby states. Fire departments from across California have been deployed to assist.

The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for the region, forecasting “critical” fire weather conditions.

On Thursday, police arrested 42-year-old Ronnie Dean Stout II on suspicion of starting the fire by pushing a burning car into a ravine. Butte County prosecutor Mike Ramsey confirmed that Stout will be held without bail until his court appearance next week.

Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea urged residents to be prepared for evacuation, recalling past tragedies where delays led to fatalities.

Some residents, like Julia Yarbough, have already seen their homes destroyed. “This is what’s left of my house,” she told CBS, pointing to the charred remains. “I must be in shock.”

Butte County, located about 70 miles north of Sacramento and 25 miles from Paradise, the site of California’s deadliest fire in 2018, remains on high alert.