Thousands of firefighters faced a wildfire in Northern California that grew to an area larger than Los Angeles. The fire, named the Park Fire, had become the biggest in California during that year. It had similarities to the catastrophic Camp Fire of 2018, which killed 85 individuals and destroyed 11,000 homes in Paradise. The town of Paradise was once again under threat, with evacuation orders issued for various communities in Butte, Plumas, Tehama, and Shasta counties.
The weather conditions provided some relief to firefighters as cooler temperatures and higher humidity levels were predicted to help slow down the Park Fire. However, the fire had already burned 547 square miles and destroyed 134 structures since it began on Wednesday. The fire, located near Chico, was only 10% contained and was moving north and east.
There were around 2,500 firefighters combating the blaze, with the assistance of helicopters and air tankers. While the current weather conditions were favorable, firefighters were making the most of the situation. Residents like Susan Singleton had to hastily evacuate their homes, with some finding out that their residences had been destroyed by the fire.
In the U.S., there were over 110 active fires covering 2,800 square miles. Southern California was also battling wildfires with a blaze in the Sequoia National Forest affecting the community of Havilah. Crews were working to contain fires in various locations, including the Plumas National Forest near the California-Nevada border.
Other regions were also facing fire emergencies, such as in eastern Washington where a fire destroyed homes and buildings. In Idaho, several communities experienced structure loss due to the Gwen Fire, which covered an estimated 41 square miles with no containment.
Moreover, in Jasper National Park in the Canadian Rockies, a significant evacuation took place as a fire damaged hundreds of structures. The devastation continued in places like eastern Oregon where fires like the Durkee and Cow Valley blazes burned hundreds of square miles.
