The Park Fire in northern California has become the state’s seventh-largest wildfire on record, burning 360,141 acres in less than a week. Propelled by extreme fire weather, the blaze has forced thousands to evacuate and caused significant damage across Butte, Plumas, Shasta, and Tehama counties.
Initially ignited by an arsonist on July 24, the fire is currently 12% contained and continues to grow as it encounters decades-old dry forests. “We are seeing increased fire activity within the incident this afternoon,” said Mark Brunton, operations section chief at the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, during a Sunday news conference.
The fire has generated its own weather, spawning fire whirls, fire tornadoes, and pyrocumulus clouds, complicating firefighting efforts. Smoke from the blaze has caused unhealthy air quality from northern California to Canada. The fire now threatens Lassen Volcanic National Park, prompting evacuations and warnings about potential damage to park structures.
Climate change has exacerbated the conditions fueling the Park Fire, with increased heat waves and prolonged dry spells. While a brief respite from the heat may aid firefighting efforts, forecasts predict a return of hotter-than-average weather by early August, likely extending into mid-month.
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