California forest fire: Wind hinders flame fighting effort further
Before Sunday afternoon (local time), the flames in the North of California had destroyed over 144,500 hectares of land according to the lake. The "Park Fire" is thus the seventh largest forest fire ever recorded in California.
The Fire Department reported light progress in fighting the flames on Saturday. Twelve percent of the fire was under control, they stated. No reports of fatalities have been given, See said, 67 buildings had been damaged or destroyed.
Approximately 4200 people have had to evacuate their homes in the Butte County administrative district due to the forest fire. The flames have so far mainly affected a largely uninhabited, mountainous area about 145 kilometers north of the California state capital Sacramento.
Fire Chief Brunton spoke of challenging conditions for the firefighters, including the rocky terrain. "We are beginning to observe increased fire activity," he said. Some 4000 firefighters were battling the fire, supported by aircraft and bulldozers.
The "Park Fire" ignited near Chico in Butte County on a Wednesday. Within hours, the flames destroyed a vast area there and in the neighboring Tehama County. On Thursday, the police arrested a 42-year-old suspect who allegedly pushed a burning car into a ravine and thus ignited the fire.
Chico is only about 24 kilometers from the city of Paradise. The devastating fire with 85 fatalities in 2018 went down in California history as the fire with the most deaths.
Now, California is experiencing an early start to what appears to be an especially intense forest fire season. Experts see climate change as the cause for extreme weather conditions that lead to more frequent and intense forest fires.
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- The latest update from Cal Fire, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, indicates that the wind conditions could worsen the ongoing "Park Fire" this week.
- On Sunday, Cal Fire reported that the flames had spread significantly, threatening more structures in the densely populated areas.
- The California firefighters, along with counterparts from other departments, are working tirelessly to contain the "Park Fire," facing challenges such as unpredictable wind directions and steep terrain.
- Despite the efforts of the fire department, the high winds on Sunday caused the "Park Fire" to rapidly expand, making it a significant threat to California's resident and wildlands.
