Park Fire in Northern California Grows to Over 350,000 Acres, 7th Largest, 12% Contained

Jul 27, 2024, 11:00 PM

The Park Fire in Northern California has rapidly grown to over 350,000 acres, making it the largest active wildfire in the United States and the seventh largest in California's recorded history. The fire, which started on Wednesday afternoon due to arson, has spread across Butte and Tehama counties, destroying 134 structures and threatening thousands more. Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency for the affected counties. Despite the efforts of nearly 4,000 firefighters, the blaze remains only 12% contained. Cooler temperatures and higher humidity have provided some relief, aiding containment efforts. The fire has forced the evacuation of thousands of residents and continues to pose a significant threat to the region. The fire has consumed 307,000 acres and has been burning at a rate of 5,000 acres an hour over the past 60 hours.