By Sarah Bohannon, Angel Huracha, Ava Norgrove, and Alec Stutson, NSPR
Updated July 30, 2:18 p.m.
As reported by Cal Fire, the Park Fire currently stands at 14% contained, encompassing an area of 383,619 acres as of 7:59 a.m. on Tuesday, July 30.
It's now the largest fire in the nation and one of the largest in California's history burning 53,104 acres in Butte County and 330,515 in Tehama County.
Progress and plan for the day
The fire remains very active. Steep terrain has been challenging for firefighters.
Cal Fire reports that critically low fuel moisture and high winds made suppressing the fire's spread difficult. Today winds are expected to slow down a slightly.
The agency reports the southern part of the fire saw a flare-up of activity late in the day yesterday due to clearer skies and longer-burning fuels in the area.
Damage assessment
Cal Fire has completed just over half of its damage assessment and reports 192 homes and other buildings have been destroyed and 19 structures are damaged.
More than 4,000 structures remained threatened by the Park Fire.
Evacuation and warnings
Yesterday, more evacuations were issued in Tehama, Shasta and Plumas counties in the late afternoon.
The same day, the Butte County Sheriff’s Office announced many evacuation downgrades for the Park Fire.
Evacuation orders for the Forest Ranch areas were downgraded to warnings.
All evacuation warnings for the town of Paradise have been lifted. Warnings were also lifted for areas south of the Skyway in Magalia and in north Chico.
Residents can return home in these areas but are advised to be aware of their surroundings.
To view an evacuation map for Butte County, click here.
For other evacuation maps just click each county: Shasta, Tehama, Plumas. The list of evacuation orders and warnings can also be found here.
We are no longer updating this section of the article. Please refer to the latest information above.
July 29, 1:30 p.m.
Firefighters monitor the Park Fire in Butte County on July 26, 2024.Courtesy Cal Fire
Firefighters took advantage of improved weather conditions over the weekend to strengthen containment lines on the Park Fire.
According to the latest update from Cal Fire this afternoon, the Park Fire has burned 370,237 acres and is 12% contained.
Evacuations lifted in Paradise, north Chico and parts of Magalia
The Butte County Sheriff’s Office was able to lift many evacuations for the fire today. All evacuation warnings were lifted for the town of Paradise and for the areas south of Skyway in Magalia.
Zone 283 north of Skyway remains under an evacuation warning. Several warnings have also been lifted in north Chico.
Residents can return home in these areas but are advised to be aware of their surroundings.
Priorities on the fire
Butte County’s Fire Chief Garrett Sjolund said that firefighters in Butte County are focused on Butte Meadows today.
“The fire is hung up in some timber as we head up towards Butte Meadows … our priority here in Butte County is buttoning that up,” he said.
He expressed confidence in the work completed around Upper Bidwell Park and along Highway 32.
“People in Chico have nothing to worry about,” Sjolund said. “They're all good, continue life as normal as they can.”
Arraignment of Ronnie Dean Stout II
The arraignment for a Chico man arrested in connection with starting the fire is scheduled for 3 p.m. today.
Ronnie Dean Stout II was arrested Thursday morning by the Cal Fire arson investigators on suspicion of starting the Park Fire. Stout is suspected of pushing a burning car into a ravine.
An air tanker drops retardant on forest land in Butte County near the Park Fire on July 27, 2024.Courtesy Cal Fire
Updated at: 6:15 p.m. on 7/26
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The Park Fire is now prompting evacuations in Shasta County and Plumas County. This is in addition to Tehama and Butte counties, which means the fire is now covering four counties in the North State.
Shasta and Plumas
In Shasta County, all evacuation zones for the Manton area are now under an evacuation warning. In Shingletown, zone 5070-A is now under an evacuation warning as well.
Zone 40 in Plumas County is now under an evacuation warning.
Butte and Tehama
Separately in Butte County, evacuations were also recently issued for the communities of Inskip, Stirling City, and Magalia due to the fire.
If you’re under an evacuation warning and you have large animals or need extra time to evacuate, officials say you should leave before an order is issued.
Officials are asking those who are under an evacuation order to leave immediately.
The fire remains very active. A Red Flag Warning is still in effect due to gusty winds and low humidity.
A firefighter monitors a burn operation on Highway 32 to combat the Park Fire near Forest Ranch, Calif., Sunday, July 28, 2024.AP Photo/Nic Coury
Last update at 4:45 p.m.
We are no longer updating this section of the article. Please refer to the latest information above.
The Park Fire, now the most extensive wildfire in California's history, continues to force evacuations in Butte and Tehama counties and has burned about 180,000 acres with little to no containment.
Multiple evacuation orders were issued for Tehama County today.
In Butte County, the entire community of Forest Ranch was also put under an evacuation order today, which is particularly concerning. All of Cohasset also remains under an evacuation order.
Some evacuation warnings remain for the town of Paradise. Butte Creek Canyon is also under an evacuation warning. Warnings extend beyond Butte Meadows as far as the Philbrook area.
The fire began in Upper Bidwell Park, northeast of Chico, at around 3 p.m. Wednesday. Firefighters are currently using various strategies and equipment to combat the blaze while coordinating with law enforcement to implement evacuation orders and road closures.
Where the fire stands
Cal Fire Incident Commander Chief Billy See says the fire is growing extremely to the north and through Tehama County, between 4,000 and 5,000 acres per hour.
“We have approximately 1,700 personnel on the ground fighting this fire, at this point, with several hundred others on order and still inbound to the incident itself,” Chief See said.
After an aerial survey, there was extensive damage and structural destruction within the incident's perimeter, totaling 134 structures. Another aerial survey will take place Friday night.
They are currently looking at areas of opportunity on what can be done to prevent the fire from crossing Highway 36.
"We're in preparation on how we're going to widen and improve that area so we can keep it from moving farther north at this time," See said.
He says there will be some dramatic weather increases starting this weekend with cooler temperatures and increased relative humidities, which will provide better access into the perimeter itself.
Paradise residents
The town of Paradise currently has three zones under an evacuation warning.
Honea says many residents might consider alternative routes, such as going up the Skyway through Magalia and over to Butte Meadows, but strongly advised against this.
"The problem with that is you will be going into an area that is likely impacted by fire and already under an evacuation order. So, if there is a need to evacuate from Paradise, we need you to first evacuate utilizing one of the three main roads out of Paradise -- Skyway, Clark or Pentz. Do not go up the Skyway because you're going to be heading into a more dangerous situation."
Residents are advised to check for road closures before going out on the road. Critical road closures can be found at buttecounty.net. Look for the black banner at the top of the page.
Last update at 10:10 a.m.
We are no longer updating this section of the article. Please refer to the latest information above.
Due to the Park Fire, new evacuations have been issued for parts of Forest Ranch and Magalia. The fire has now burned more than 164,000 acres, making it the largest fire in California.
Zones 263 and 264 in Forest Ranch are now under an evacuation order. Also, Zones 281 and 283 in Magalia are now under an evacuation warning. Click here to find your zone.
As of early Friday morning, Cal Fire is reporting that the fire no longer has any containment, indicating that fire crews no longer have a control line established around the fire’s perimeter, which is necessary to prevent further spread.
The agency is also now reporting the number of structures destroyed. It states that 134 residences and other buildings were confirmed to have been lost in the fire, with 4,000 structures remaining threatened.
The fire area remains under a Red Flag Warning due to gusty winds and low humidity. The National Weather Service issued the warning yesterday morning for much of Northern California, including Butte and Tehama counties, areas where the Park Fire is currently active.
Widespread evacuations remain in place in Butte and Tehama counties.
The Park Fire was likely started by a man who pushed a burning car into a gully in Upper Bidwell Park.
This morning, a 42-year-old male resident of Chico was apprehended by Cal Fire arson investigators on suspicion of initiating the Park Fire.
According to a press release from the Butte County District Attorney’s Office, the individual was seen pushing a car that was on fire near Alligator Hole. It reportedly went down an embankment, became engulfed in flames and started the fire.
A person nearby saw the incident, took photos of the man, and reported the incident to law enforcement. They then posted the photos and their experience on social media, where the footage has been circulated widely.
The press release said the man’s name will be released later this afternoon. A warrant was issued by a local judge, and the man was arrested and booked into the Butte County Jail.
The DA’s office says the investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is being asked to call Cal Fire Investigations at 530-538-7888.
An animal runs through grass while fleeing flames as the Park Fire tears through the Cohasset community in Butte County, Calif., on Thursday, July 25, 2024.AP Photo/Noah Berger
We are no longer updating this section of the article. Please refer to the latest information above.
Last updated at 10:45 a.m.
About 4,000 people remain evacuated from the Park Fire in Butte County, according to the Butte County Sheriff’s Office, which has been issuing evacuations due to the fire through the night
The Tehama County Sheriff's Office is also continuing to issue new evacuations this morning due to the fire.
The fire quickly exploded yesterday afternoon, growing to 45,550 acres by this morning. It's 3% contained, according to the latest update from Cal Fire.
Widespread evacuations remain in place for the communities of Cohasset and Forest Ranch, which are both at very high risk of wildfire and have been top of mind for officials for years.
Many residents in Chico were up most of the night, as the Sheriff’s Office issued evacuations for parts of the city. The Tehama County Sheriff’s Office also issued several evacuations for areas near the Butte County line.
‘Whole area of the fire’ a concern
Hot, dry, windy conditions have led to the quick growth of the fire, but Dan Collins, fire captain and public information officer with Cal Fire and the Butte County Fire Department said it also moved into areas that have seen little fire in recent years. He said that was a significant factor to the fire’s growth.
He said one of the biggest challenges for firefighters has been the intense heat. Another is the accessibility of certain areas of the fire.
“There's not a lot of road systems, or areas to get in and get direct with that,” he said “So we're utilizing reconnaissance planes and bulldozers to kind of open up from some roads, containment lines, so we can get some resources in there.”
Collins said the “whole area of the fire” is of concern today. He said fire personnel continue to be focused on evacuations and structure defense while building direct containment lines.
“Once resources arrived, because again, people are en route from all over to come support the operations, they will be inserted into the areas of the most critical need,” he said.
The Park Fire burns north of Chico on July 24, 2024.Chico Fire Department
Cohasset efforts
With Cohasset only having one main road out of the fire, Collins said a significant emphasis was placed on evacuations and structural defense within the community.
Collins says that Sierra Pacific Industries provided assistance to residents.
“They were able to open up some of their private roads and assist in the evacuations, kind of getting the resources out, alternatively out of Cohasset,” Collins said. “They were tremendous help to us. They're loggers and their personnel assisted tremendously with getting folks kind of out the back way through their land.”
More updates from today
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is providing fire management assistance for the Park Fire. California submitted the request when the fire was around 6,000 acres. At that time, the fire was threatening over 1,000 homes in the Cohasset and Richardson Springs area.
FEMA reports 15 other large fires burning uncontrolled in California. The assistance will cover up to 75% of eligible firefighting costs.
Last updated on July 24 at 9:45 p.m.
We are no longer updating this section of the article. Please refer to the latest information above.
Widespread evacuations are in place due to a fire that started in Upper Bidwell Park in Chico this afternoon. The fire currently stands at more than 1,500 acres, according to Cal Fire.
The entire community of Cohasset is currently under an evacuation order.
Most of Forest Ranch is under an evacuation warning. Both are at very high risk of wildfire and have been top of mind for officials for years.
Another concern about Cohasset is it only has one main road to get in and out.
In a live YouTube video about the fire, Zeke Lunder, a North State fire analyst and founder of The Lookout, said there’s likely still a lot of people in the community.
“The open question is whether or not they'll be able to get people down out of there. Cohasset has no secondary access that's paved. There's dirt logging roads to go out the top and make their way back to Highway 32 eventually, but there's no secondary paved access roads out of Cohasset,” Lunder said.
Cohasset was one of the first areas to have evaluations issued. Rick Carhart, public information officer for Cal Fire and the Butte County Fire Department told NSPR a little after 6 p.m. that at the point the fire wasn’t near Cohasset, but it was moving in that direction.
“We're just trying to make sure that we give everybody as much advance warning as we can … so that people aren't having to just really like panic when they finally are told [they] have to leave,” Carhart said. “We're trying to get it done nice and early.”
Several evacuation zones in the Upper Bidwell Park area of Chico are also under an order, as well as several zones in Tehama County.
Northbound traffic along Eaton and Cohasset roads has been shut down due to the ongoing incident. Officials ask that residents avoid the area if possible.
More about the Park Fire
Cal Fire and the Chico Fire Department are unified command on the fire. The Butte County Sheriff’s Office is issuing evacuations.
Carhart said the agency has had significant resources on the fire since this afternoon, including fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, fire engines and water tenders. Aircraft have been making retardant and water drops on the fire.
“The helicopters have a pretty quick turnaround because they're able to just come right over the ridge and down and get water out of Horseshoe Lake in Upper Bidwell Park,” Carhart said.
He said conditions have been windy with a significant amount of steady wind coming from the south.
“Any kind of a wind on fire, that's one of the biggest drivers of the movement and the growth and the spread of a wildland fire is when the wind gets on it,” Carhart said.
Record-breaking hot weather this month has caused dangerously dry conditions. Carhart said this can cause quick changes in the fire’s direction.
“It’s just so dry that pretty much everything that a spark touches is catching on fire right now,” Carhart said.
Carhart stressed that residents should stay apprised of the fire and monitor the situation. He said to keep an eye on information from the Butte County Sheriff’s Office and his agency.
“If your zone is under an evacuation order, we urge everybody to get out as quickly as possible and not try to stick around,” Carhart said.
Officials are also asking all residents to make sure they know their evacuation zone.
Links to follow to stay updated
- Butte County Sheriff’s Office evacuation zone map
- Butte County Sheriff's Office Twitter
- Butte County Sheriff's Office Facebook
- Cal Fire Butte Unit/Butte County Fire Department Twitter
- Cal Fire Butte Unit/Butte County Fire Department Facebook
- Butte County website (contains information during emergencies)
Evacuation centers
- Neighborhood Church - 2801 Notre Dame Boulevard in Chico
- Small animal shelter - 2279 Del Oro in Oroville
- Large animal shelter - Camelot Equestrian Park in Oroville.
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