Wildfire becomes seventh largest in Californian history
Thousands of firefighters are battling a rapidly growing wildfire in northern California after the blaze more than doubled in size in a 24-hour span to become the seventh largest in the US state’s history.
The Park Fire had burned more than 141,640 hectares about 144km north of the state capital city of Sacramento as of Saturday, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire.
Cooler temperatures and more humid air were expected in the region, potentially helping efforts to slow the spread of the fire, which was 10 per cent contained as of Sunday AEST. The fire has destroyed 134 structures, authorities said.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.Evacuation orders and warnings were issued for multiple communities in several counties, including a warning for Paradise, the town that was devastated by the 2018 Camp Fire, the deadliest in the state’s history.
US President Joe Biden has been briefed on the fire and has directed his team to do everything possible to support efforts to fight it, a White House official said.
A man was arrested on Thursday on suspicion that he started the Park Fire by pushing a flaming car into a gully on Wednesday afternoon.
The fire was the largest of dozens across the country that have burned more than 800,000 hectares, according to the National Interagency Fire Centre.
In Oregon, several fires were burning, including the Durkee Fire, which had scorched more than 116,000 hectares in the eastern part of the state, authorities said.
A firefighter died after a single-engine tanker crashed near the Falls Fire in southeastern Oregon, the US Forest Service said in a statement on Friday.
