Largest Wildfire in U.S. Swells Over 600 Square Miles: California’s Park Fire Update

The largest wildfire in the United States grew to more than 600 square miles on Tuesday, larger than Los Angeles, according to California fire officials, as thousands of firefighters battled the blaze in a wilderness area north of Sacramento.

More than 5,500 firefighters from California and other states were working around the clock to extinguish the Park Fire, which was blazing in the state’s Central Valley, some 90 miles (145 km) north of Sacramento, the capital. The fire spread to 385,065 acres (155,830 hectares), making it the seventh largest wildfire in California history, according to officials.

The Park Fire on Tuesday surpassed the 2020 Creek Fire in Fresno County, which burnt over 380,000 acres, according to fire officials. However, it is still smaller than the state’s largest fire on record, the August Complex fire of 2020, which scorched more than 1 million acres across seven counties in northern California.

The Park Fire, which is fuelled by dry grass, brush, and timber, is spreading quickly, according to Fire Capt. Dan Collins of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire.

“This fire has lots of fuel that is receptive to burning, and it’s hard to get to,” he told me. “Our fire line stretches 260 miles, the equivalent of three Lake Tahoes. It can take two to three hours to transport individuals across the terrain.”

According to Ashton Robinson Cook, a National Weather Service meteorologist, there is only a minor probability of a stray thunderstorm on Tuesday. After that, no rain is expected, and the weather will be hot and dry, he said.

Temperatures will hit 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.8°C) on Wednesday, and highs might remain there until next Monday, he predicted, with relative humidity dropping to as low as 7%.

The Park Fire, which was only 14% contained on Tuesday, prompted the evacuation of almost 4,000 people and burned or damaged more than 192 structures, according to fire officials. There were no injuries or deaths reported.

Cal Fire spokesperson Jeremy Hollingshead stated that persistent clouds of smoke had grounded the 41 aircraft used to spray water and fire retardant chemicals on the flames.

Evacuations included Paradise, which was ravaged by the 2018 Camp Fire, the deadliest in state history.

The guy accused of starting the Park Fire, allegedly by driving a flaming car down a Butte County ravine last Wednesday, was charged with arson on Monday but is awaiting more charges, officials said.

Ronnie Dean Stout II, 42, of Chico, California, denied guilt during his arraignment on Monday, said Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey at a news conference. It was unknown whether Stout had an attorney.

Stout did not enter a plea and was denied bail. His arraignment was postponed until Thursday, Ramsey said, since further charges could be added.