California Man Arrested for Sparking State’s Largest Wildfire of the Year

 

A California man was arrested on Thursday, accused of igniting the state’s largest wildfire of the year by pushing a burning car into a gully. The fire, now known as the Park fire, has ravaged more than 71,000 acres (28,733 hectares) near Chico, California. Early Thursday, the blaze was reported to be only 3% contained, prompting widespread evacuations in Butte and Tehama counties.

Authorities have not yet released the name of the individual in custody. The Park fire began in Chico’s Upper Bidwell Park, a popular area for hiking and swimming. As the flames spread, residents witnessed the massive smoke plumes and the sight of firefighting aircraft working to control the blaze.

Fire officials are concerned that the combination of high temperatures and strong winds could cause the fire to expand rapidly. The Park fire’s proximity to rural communities has raised alarm, particularly given the recent history of destructive fire seasons. The 2018 Camp fire, which devastated the nearby town of Paradise, remains one of the deadliest wildfires in U.S. history.

The arrest comes amid an intense firefighting effort across North America. In California, about 1,000 people near the Nevada border were displaced following evacuations related to the Gold Complex fires, which have burned over 3,000 acres in the Plumas National Forest.

In eastern Oregon, evacuation orders for the city of Huntington were lifted on Thursday after a severe thunderstorm brought rain and cooler temperatures. However, the Durkee fire, currently the largest in the U.S., continues to be a major concern. The storm's lightning, which produced wind gusts of up to 75 mph, could potentially spark new fires.

According to the U.S. National Interagency Fire Center, 84 large, uncontained fires are currently burning across the country. The center noted that many of these fires, particularly in the Northwest, are exhibiting “extreme fire behavior.” In response, evacuation orders are in effect for 15 fires, including those in California, the Northern Rockies, and the Great Basin.

In Northern California, fire crews are focused on managing evacuations and defending structures while using bulldozers to establish containment lines. As of Wednesday night, Cal Fire and the Butte County Fire Department reported no deaths or damage to structures.

A smaller but rapidly spreading wildfire in San Diego County prompted evacuation orders on Wednesday night. Across affected regions, including parts of Oregon, Washington, and Idaho, air quality alerts and advisories are in effect due to the pervasive wildfire smoke.

The U.S. National Weather Service has issued Red Flag warnings for areas in North Dakota, Nevada, Montana, Wyoming, South Dakota, Idaho, Nebraska, Washington, and Oregon. These warnings indicate critical fire conditions with low humidity and strong winds.

The Pacific Northwest has experienced an exceptionally aggressive fire season this year, with millions of acres of national forest land facing severe dry conditions. The prolonged heatwave has exacerbated the wildfire threat, with dried-out land and record temperatures increasing the risk of new ignitions.

In Canada, wildfires near Jasper continue to burn, causing significant damage to the town, according to a statement from the Jasper National Park Service. The ongoing fires in the region are part of a broader pattern of severe wildfire activity affecting North America.