California's Park Fire surpasses 350,000 acres, 7th largest fire in state history (2024)

CHICO — Northern California's Park Fire has surpassed 350,000 acres burned as evacuation orders affect four counties—Butte, Tehama, Shasta and Plumas.

Cal Fire reported that containment increased to 10% on Saturday evening. The Park Fire is the largest wildfire in the state so far this year and the seventh-largest wildfire in California history, burning 350,012 acres as of Saturday evening. Crews had reported it was 353,000 acres on Saturday.

The fire has scorched an area about the size of Los Angeles and has burned more acres than Cal Fire reported all of last year in the state.

Saturday's cooler weatherand higher moisture in the air could help slow down the fire.

Cal Fire reported the fire was burning through fire retardant lines in Tehama County and wasspreading at a rapid rate of 4,000 to 5,000 acres per hour on Friday. Most of the burn area was in Tehama County with the flames spreading north toward Shasta County.

IN PHOTOS: Park Fire in Northern California

Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea said Friday afternoon that about 4,000 residents are under evacuation. The number was not yet clear for the other counties. Cal Fire said 4,200 structures are threatened.

Cal Fire said the Park Fire wasthe result of suspected arsonand ignited around 3 p.m. Wednesday in the Upper Bidwell Park area, about four miles northeast of Chico's city center, in Butte County.

Cal Fire initially reported that 134 structures were destroyed, but said that was through aerial assessments. On Saturday night, Cal Fire said ground inspection units have confirmed 20 structures have been destroyed and expect these numbers to fluctuate over the coming days.

No specifics have been released on the kinds of structures destroyed,but it's clear that several homeshave been burned.

On Friday evening, California Gov. Gavin Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency in Butte and Tehama counties.

"We are using every available tool to protect lives and property as our fire and emergency response teams work around the clock to combat these challenging fires," Newsom said in a statement. "Stay safe and remain alert for instructions from local authorities as dangerous fire weather conditions continue."

A local emergency was declared in Butte County Thursday night, allowing the county to request more resources from the state. Ahead of the local emergency being declared, Newsom secured a Fire Management Assistance Grant from FEMA to help with the state's response to the fire.

Newsom then secured federal assistance for Tehama County on Saturday night.

An Alert California tower camera in the area captured a fire tornado, or firenado, near Chico early Thursday evening.

Arson suspect arrested

The Butte County District Attorney's Office announced Thursday they had arrested a man suspected of starting the fire. As detailed by the DA's office, a man was seen pushing a car that was on fire down into the gully near Alligator Hole in upper Bidwell Park -- allegedly spreading the flames that would become the Park Fire.

He was arrested Thursday and identified by the district attorney's office as Chico resident Ronnie Dean Stout II, 42. He was reportedly seen calmly leaving the area, trying to blend in with other people.

Alligator Hole is a popular area for people to cool off during the summer and is about six miles east of Chico's city plaza. Upper Bidwell Park is one of the largest municipal parks in the nation and is home to many hiking and biking trails, swimming holes and picnic areas.

Fire activity

Jeremy Pierce, operations section chief for Cal Fire, reported during a news conference Saturday the fire had a massive growth in Tehama County, burning north to Highway 36 and scorching about 150,000 acres.

About 5,000 acres are burning across Highway 36 but has held on a ridge just above Manton. Crews are trying to construct a line around the fire and wrap it back to Highway 36, Pierce said Saturday afternoon.

In Paynes Creek, there was a large fire attack Friday night. Several photos have captured destroyed structures in the area.

Concerns as of Saturday afternoon are in the Mineral area, Pierce said. The fire has "laid down," allowing crews to construct lines. The Lassen Volcanic National Park has closed. Park officials said the fire has the potential to reach Manzanita Lake and Mineral headquarters.

The fire has stayed within the footprint in the southwestern portion, Pierce said. Crews will continue to mop up around structures.

On the eastern side of the fire, near the Butte Meadows area, Pierce said the fire has been holding and they are keeping on the west side of Highway 32.

In the Forest Ranch area, crews haven't seen the type of fire activity as in previous days, such as spot fires.

"Crews are out there working hard," Pierce said. "They're still trying to go direct on this. We're having great success today as that fire lays down. With that fire lying down, our crews are strong and going out there and getting this while the weather is on our favor."

Evacuation orders and shelters

Butte County

Evacuations were first issued in Butte County. Several zones stretching northeast from Bidwell Park up Highway 32 to the Butte Meadows and Jonesville areas are under mandatory evacuation orders. It includes Cohasset Ridge, Keefer Ridge and Forest Ranch.

Evacuation warnings are in effect for zones on the east side of that area, from Butte Canyon Creek and all of Paradise northeast through Magalia and Stirling City, and up to the Inskip area and around Philbrook Reservoir, just south of Jonestown. They also include the Chico airport, west to Highway 99 and north to Wookey Road.

An evacuation shelter in Butte County was set up at Neighborhood Church at 2801 Notre Dame Blvd. in Chico. A second evacuation shelter is open at the Butte County Fairgrounds at 199 E. Hazel St. in Gridley.

A shelter for small animals is operating at 2279 Del Oro, in Oroville. Large animals can be taken to Camelot Equestrian Park at 1985 Clark Rd. in Oroville.

In Butte County, Cohasset Road was closed at Rock Creek, and Upper Park Road was closed at Wildwood, Cal Fire said. Additionally, Highway 32 is closed from Bruce Road in Chico to Highway 36.

Butte County residents can viewa live evacuation map hereto see the exact zones.

Tehama County

Tehama, Shasta and Plumas County residents can viewa live evacuation map here.

In Tehama County, nearly the entire eastern side of the county, from the southern border to the northern border, is under mandatory evacuation orders. This continues from the Cohasset area near the Butte border through the Ishi Wilderness and Tehama Wildlife Area, through Highway 36 to the Shasta County border, east of Highway 99.

A few zones are under evacuation warnings on the east side of Highway 99 and west of the mandatory zones, stretching from the Butte County border north to the Shasta County border. A few zones in the easternmost part of the county, where Highways 36 and 32 meet, are also under evacuation warnings.

An evacuation shelter in Tehama County is operating in Los Molinos at 7980 Sherwood Blvd.

Shasta County

In Shasta County, several zones between the Manton and Shingletown areas and stretching west and east on the south side of Highway 49 are also under mandatory evacuation orders. Dozens of zones on the north side of Highway 49 are under evacuation warnings.

A temporary shelter point for Shasta evacuees is set up at the Dollar General on Highway 44 in Shingletown, the sheriff's office said. Another one will be set up at Bella Vista Elementary School at 22661 Old Alturas Rd.

Plumas County

An area of Plumas County extending from the west side of Lake Almanor and Highway 36 down to the Grizzly Creek bridge along the Feather River Highway is under an evacuation warning. This is east of the burn area.

Butte County has had a very busy fire season this summer. The Thomspon Fire in the Oroville area recently scorched more than 3,700 acres, forced tens of thousands of people from their homes, and destroyed dozens of structures, including houses.

The day after the Thompson Fire started, the Grubbs Fire just south of that in Palermo was much smaller but also forced evacuations.

In mid-July, the Railbridge Fire, just south of Palermo, burned 130 acres, forced evacuations, destroyed or damaged several structures and injured at least one person.

Back in June, the Apache Fire, which burned in the same general area near Oroville and Palermo, scorched nearly 700 acres and forced its own round of evacuations.

Nearly two weeks before the Apache Fire, the Junes Fire burned nearly 1,100 acres in Palermo and also forced people from their homes.

The Park Fire is burning just west of where the destructive Camp and Dixie fires happened in Butte County.

The 2021 Dixie Fire burned nearly 1 million acres across Butte, Plumas, Shasta, Lassen and Tehama counties.

Further back in 2018, the Camp Fire burned more than 150,000 acres in Butte County, nearly destroying the town of Paradise. It is the deadliest fire in state history, killing 85 people.

In:
• Chico
• California Wildfires
• Butte County