Park Fire now California's sixth-largest wildfire in state history
Firefighters continue their effort to extinguish what is now the sixth-largest wildfire in California history as thousands of residents being threatened by the Park Fire wait for the all-clear from officials to return to their evacuated homes. FOX News Correspondent Bill Melugin was in Chico on Monday to break down the latest information from officials.
CHICO, Calif. – Firefighters in Northern California are continuing to put their lives on the line while they attack the Park Fire from the ground and the air as flames from what is now among the Top 5 largest wildfires in the Golden State's history burn through the pristine landscape while incinerating more than 160 buildings.
DRAMATIC PHOTOS OF CALIFORNIA'S PARK FIRE SHOW HEROIC FIREFIGHTERS RISKING LIVES TO EXTINGUISH HISTORIC BLAZE
CHICO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 28: Flames quickly grow as firefighters set a backfire on the eastern front of the Park Fire on July 28, 2024 near Chico, California. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images) (Getty Images)
As of Tuesday morning, CAL Fire estimated the Park Fire, which is burning outside the city of Chico, had scorched more than 380,000 acres and was continuing its destructive advance.
VIDEOS OF CALIFORNIA'S PARK FIRE SHOW INTENSE FLAMES, THICK SMOKE AS CREWS TRY TO BEAT BACK BLAZE
The Park Fire quickly exploded in size, and over the weekend, the blaze climbed to the seventh spot among the largest wildfires in California's history in terms of acreage burned.
However, by Tuesday morning, the Park Fire had grown to the fifth-largest wildfire of all time in California and is creeping closer to taking the No. 4 spot.
Park Fire destroys more than 160 structures in Northern California
Intense flames and thick smoke continue to billow into the sky as the Park Fire rages north of Chico.
A burned vehicle smolders in the Paynes Creek area of unincorporated Tehama County, California, during the Park fire on July 27, 2024. (Photo by JOSH EDELSON/AFP via Getty Images) (Getty Images)
CAL Fire said the wildfire has so far destroyed more than 160 structures, including homes and businesses, with at least 15 others receiving damage.
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Watch: Park Fire continues to rage as thousands of firefighters fight to douse flames
CAL Fire shared a dramatic video of the Park Fire as it continues to scorch tens of thousands of acres in Northern California. The Park Fire is now the 7th largest wildfire in California history in terms of acreage burned.
Thousands of residents living in dozens of communities across four California counties – Butte, Plumas, Shasta and Tehama – were told to pack up and get out when the fire began to rage last week.
However, some of those evacuation warnings were eased as of late Sunday night as crews got a better handle on the Park Fire in some locations.
CAL Fire stressed that residents need to be "diligent and prepared" for the possibility of additional or renewed evacuations if extreme fire activity resumes.
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California national park closed as Park Fire rages
While firefighters continue to hold the line and beat back the intense flames from the Park Fire, numerous roads and even a national park have been closed for safety reasons.
"During the rapid growth of the Park Fire over the last two days, the fire spread quickly through the Ishi Wilderness in the Lassen National Forest," CAL Fire said in its Sunday evening update.
The cooler temperatures on Sunday, however, helped to moderate the fire behavior, allowing crews to combat the fire outside the national forest lands.
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CHICO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 28: Flames quickly grow as firefighters set a backfire on the eastern front of the Park Fire on July 28, 2024 near Chico, California. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images) (Getty Images)
"This proactive approach aims to safeguard the communities and ecological and cultural resources that may be at risk from the fire," CAL Fire continued.
The danger, however, is far from over. The National Park Service (NPS) said Lassen Volcanic National Park was closed on Saturday due to the approaching Park Fire.
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CHICO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 28: Flames quickly grow as firefighters set a backfire on the eastern front of the Park Fire on July 28, 2024 near Chico, California. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images) (Getty Images)
"Three years after the Dixie Fire consumed much of the eastern portions of Lessen Volcanic National Park, the massive Park Fire is approaching the park’s western edge," the national park said in a weekend Facebook post.
The post said travelers to the national park were evacuated from all campgrounds, and all reservations had been canceled.
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CHICO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 28: Flames quickly grow as firefighters set a backfire on the eastern front of the Park Fire on July 28, 2024 near Chico, California. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images) (Getty Images)
In addition, national park employees were also evacuated from park housing and their homes in the community, with most staying in hotels.
Highway 89, which runs through the park, has also been closed to traffic and is only being used as an evacuation route for residents to flee.
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More than 5,000 firefighters putting lives on line to douse Park Fire
A firefighter is seen standing near the flames from the massive Park Fire burning near Chico in Northern California. (CAL FIRE_Official/Flickr)
CAL Fire said more than 5,300 firefighters have descended upon Northern California to help contain and extinguish the Park Fire.
Those resources include helicopters and aircraft that have been dumping water and fire retardant on the flames, as well as the hundreds of firefighters on the ground building fire lines and spraying the flames with water in the hopes of stopping the Park Fire in its tracks.
An airplane is seen dropping fire retardant on the Park Fire burning outside Chico, California. (CAL FIRE_Official/Flickr)
Photos and videos shared by officials showed the bravery of the men and women fighting the fire, as well as offering some perspective on the harsh conditions first responders have been facing while trying to put the fire out.
This image shows flames from California’s Park Fire burning near Chico devouring the landscape.
(CAL FIRE_Official/Flickr)
This image shows flames from California’s Park Fire burning near Chico devouring the landscape.
(CAL FIRE_Official/Flickr)
This image shows flames from California’s Park Fire burning near Chico devouring the landscape.
(CAL FIRE_Official/Flickr)
This image shows flames from California’s Park Fire burning near Chico devouring the landscape.
(CAL FIRE_Official/Flickr)
Resident Grant Douglas takes a drink of water while evacuating his wife and dog as the Park fire continues to burn near Paynes Creek in unincorporated Tehama County, California on July 26, 2024. More than 1,150 personnel are deployed to fight the blaze, which has burned more than 180,000 acres and burned dozens of homes, and more than 3,500 people have been forced to flee their homes, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. (Photo by JOSH EDELSON / AFP) (Photo by JOSH EDELSON/AFP via Getty Images)
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Surrounded by flames, resident Grant Douglas takes a pause on the side of the while evacuating his wife and dog as the Park fire continues to burn near Paynes Creek in unincorporated Tehama County, California on July 26, 2024. More than 1,150 personnel are deployed to fight the blaze, which has burned more than 180,000 acres and burned dozens of homes, and more than 3,500 people have been forced to flee their homes, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. (Photo by JOSH EDELSON / AFP) (Photo by JOSH EDELSON/AFP via Getty Images)
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Flames from the Park fire whip across highway 36 near Paynes Creek in unincorporated Tehama County, California on July 26, 2024. More than 1,150 personnel are deployed to fight the blaze, which has burned more than 180,000 acres and burned dozens of homes, and more than 3,500 people have been forced to flee their homes, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. (Photo by JOSH EDELSON / AFP) (Photo by JOSH EDELSON/AFP via Getty Images)
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A firefighter is seen standing near the flames from the massive Park Fire burning near Chico in Northern California.
(CAL FIRE_Official/Flickr)
CHICO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 28: A firefighter pauses to hydrate on the eastern front of the Park Fire, which has grown to 360,141 acres and is 12 percent contained, on July 28, 2024 near Chico, California. Strong winds and dried vegetation fueled the fire that exploded 70,000 acres in the first 24 hours after a man allegedly pushed a burning car into a ravine to intentionally set the blaze. In 2018, more than 18,000 structures were destroyed and 85 people killed in the nearby town of Paradise when the Camp Fire entrapped thousand of people and became the deadliest and most destructive fire in California history. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)
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CHICO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 28: Flames quickly grow as firefighters set a backfire on the eastern front of the Park Fire, which has grown to 360,141 acres and is 12 percent contained, on July 28, 2024 near Chico, California. Strong winds and dried vegetation fueled the fire that exploded 70,000 acres in the first 24 hours after a man allegedly pushed a burning car into a ravine to intentionally set the blaze. In 2018, more than 18,000 structures were destroyed and 85 people killed in the nearby town of Paradise when the Camp Fire entrapped thousand of people and became the deadliest and most destructive fire in California history. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)
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CHICO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 28: Flames quickly grow as firefighters set a backfire on the eastern front of the Park Fire, which has grown to 360,141 acres and is 12 percent contained, on July 28, 2024 near Chico, California. Strong winds and dried vegetation fueled the fire that exploded 70,000 acres in the first 24 hours after a man allegedly pushed a burning car into a ravine to intentionally set the blaze. In 2018, more than 18,000 structures were destroyed and 85 people killed in the nearby town of Paradise when the Camp Fire entrapped thousand of people and became the deadliest and most destructive fire in California history. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)
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CHICO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 28: Flames quickly grow as firefighters set a backfire on the eastern front of the Park Fire, which has grown to 360,141 acres and is 12 percent contained, on July 28, 2024 near Chico, California. Strong winds and dried vegetation fueled the fire that exploded 70,000 acres in the first 24 hours after a man allegedly pushed a burning car into a ravine to intentionally set the blaze. In 2018, more than 18,000 structures were destroyed and 85 people killed in the nearby town of Paradise when the Camp Fire entrapped thousand of people and became the deadliest and most destructive fire in California history. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)
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CHICO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 28: Flames quickly grow as firefighters set a backfire on the eastern front of the Park Fire, which has grown to 360,141 acres and is 12 percent contained, on July 28, 2024 near Chico, California. Strong winds and dried vegetation fueled the fire that exploded 70,000 acres in the first 24 hours after a man allegedly pushed a burning car into a ravine to intentionally set the blaze. In 2018, more than 18,000 structures were destroyed and 85 people killed in the nearby town of Paradise when the Camp Fire entrapped thousand of people and became the deadliest and most destructive fire in California history. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)
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This video shows a CAL Fire vehicle in front of intense flames from California's Park Fire.
(CAL FIre/X)
CHICO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 27: An old ranch house is reduced to ash near the small community of Payne Creek as the Park Fire continues to expand on July 27, 2024 near Chico, California. The Park Fire has grown to 348,370 acres and is still 0 percent contained. Strong winds and dried vegetation fueled the fire that exploded 70,000 acres in the first 24 hours after a man allegedly pushed a burning car into a ravine to intentionally set the blaze. In 2018, more than 18,000 structures were destroyed and 85 people killed in the nearby town of Paradise when the Camp Fire entrapped thousand of people and became the deadliest and most destructive fire in California history. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)
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An airplane is seen dropping fire retardant on the Park Fire burning outside Chico, California.
(CAL FIRE_Official/Flickr)
A firefighter is seen standing near the flames from the massive Park Fire burning near Chico in Northern California.
(CAL FIRE_Official/Flickr)
A firefighter is seen standing near the flames from the massive Park Fire burning near Chico in Northern California.
(CAL FIRE_Official/Flickr)
A firefighter is seen standing near the flames from the massive Park Fire burning near Chico in Northern California.
(CAL FIRE_Official/Flickr)
This image shows flames from California’s Park Fire burning near Chico devouring the landscape.
(CAL FIRE_Official/Flickr)
A burned vehicle smolders in the Paynes Creek area of unincorporated Tehama County, California, during the Park fire on July 27, 2024. The fast-moving and rapidly growing wildfire has forced more than 4,000 people to evacuate as firefighters battle gusty winds and perilously dry conditions, authorities said on July 26, 2024. An arsonist is suspected to have started the fire which has burned more than 340,000 acres and burned dozens of homes. (Photo by JOSH EDELSON / AFP) (Photo by JOSH EDELSON/AFP via Getty Images)
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A burned car during the Park Fire near Chico, California, US, on Friday, July 26, 2024. Arson investigators in California arrested a man on suspicion of starting the state's largest wildfire this year - a conflagration that has prompted evacuations and threatened the state's power grid. Photographer: Benjamin Fanjoy/Bloomberg via Getty Images
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TOPSHOT - A property is seen in flames as the Park fire continues to burn near Paynes Creek in unincorporated Tehama County, California on July 26, 2024. A huge, fast-moving and rapidly growing wildfire in northern California has forced more than 4,000 people to evacuate as firefighters battle gusty winds and perilously dry conditions, authorities said on July 26. (Photo by JOSH EDELSON / AFP) (Photo by JOSH EDELSON/AFP via Getty Images)
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CHICO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 26: A massive pyrocumulus cloud rises from the Park Fire, which has grown to 239,152 acres and is 0 percent contained, expands at a rapid rate on July 26, 2024 near Chico, California. Strong winds and dried vegetation fueled the fire that exploded 70,000 acres in the first 24 hours after a man allegedly pushed a burning car into a ravine to intentionally set the blaze. In 2018, more than 18,000 structures were destroyed and 85 people killed in the nearby town of Paradise when the Camp Fire entrapped thousand of people and became the deadliest and most destructive fire in California history. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)
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No deaths have been reported as a result of the fire, but officials said some minor injuries were reported.
Suspected arsonist arraigned
Time lapse video shows California's Park Fire exploding in size
A north California bushfire known as the Park Fire grew to more than 45,000 acres by the morning of July 25, after erupting a day earlier in Chico. (Video: ALERTCalifornia | UC San Diego via Storyful)
The Park Fire began last Wednesday as a bizarre case of arson, investigators said.
Witnesses spotted a man next to a car where a fire had started under the left wheel of what turned out to be the suspect's mother's vehicle and watched it burn, according to Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey.
The man climbed into the vehicle for a few moments, then got out and pushed the flaming car down a 60-foot embankment into a gully, investigators said. The burning car eventually became engulfed, spreading flames into the nearby brush and eventually tearing through nearby neighborhoods.
The suspect was identified later that evening and arrested early Thursday morning. Ronnie Stout II, 42, of Chico, was held in the Butte County Jail without bail and made his first appearance in court Monday. FOX 2 in San Francisco reports he was charged with felony arson of an inhabited structure or property.