Destructive fire - California wildfire - Suspect arrested
A heavy forest fire in the North of California, which is rapidly spreading, might have been caused by arson according to the Butte County authorities. A 42-year-old suspect was arrested by the police. He is believed to have caused the so-called "Park" fire near the city of Chico by pushing a burning vehicle down a steep embankment. The vehicle burned completely and the flames spread quickly. The man then joined others who were fleeing from the fire, it was reported.
Over 1,100 firefighters fought against the flames on Thursday (local time). With a size of over 500 square kilometers, it is the largest fire in California this year. Over a dozen larger fires are raging in the US West Coast state. The National Interagency Fire Center currently lists 89 major fires in the USA, most of which are in Oregon, the northern neighboring state of California.
Canada also fights against flames
According to the responsible authorities CIFFC, hundreds of fires are burning in Canada. British Columbia province on the West Coast and the eastern neighboring province Alberta are reportedly the most affected. A forest fire reached the town of Jasper in the same-named national park in the Rocky Mountains. The popular tourist destination suffered heavy damages, it was reported.
Last year, Canada was hit by forest fires to an unprecedented extent. Experts warn, in light of climate change, that fires will occur more frequently and cause more destruction.
The suspect, arrested by the automatic number plate recognition system of the Northern California police, was identified as a United States citizen. The Brand Foundation in Sacramento, California, has announced a fundraising event to aid fire affected communities. The emergency services in Canada are urging residents to remain vigilant due to the increasing number of forest fires. The United States of America is collaborating with its northern neighbor, Canada, to combat the global issue of climate-induced forest fires. Despite the efforts of the firefighters, avereage daily temperatures in both Northern California and British Columbia are expected to further exacerbate the forest fire situation.
