Watch: Heroic effort underway to stop Park Fire as blaze incinerates area triple the size of Lake Tahoe
CAL Fire said in its Tuesday morning update that the Park Fire continues to grow in size and has scorched more than 383,000 acres since igniting on July 24. To put that into perspective, CAL Fire said the perimeter of the Park Fire is a whopping 260 miles – more than three times the surface area of Lake Tahoe.
Watch: Intense flames surround firefighter working to extinguish California's Park Fire
A new video released by CAL Fire shows firefighters on the front lines of the Park Fire on Friday, July, 26, as intense flames spread out in all directions.
CHICO, Calif. – Thousands of firefighters from across Northern California are continuing their around-the-clock efforts to extinguish the state’s 5th-largest wildfire in history, and a new video released by first responders shows just how intense the heroic fight has been against the Park Fire.
(FOX Weather)
Intense flames and thick smoke continue to billow into the sky as the Park Fire rages north of Chico. CAL Fire said in its Tuesday morning update that the fire continues to grow and has scorched more than 383,000 acres since igniting on July 24.
The fire is about 14% contained and has now moved up another spot on the list of the largest wildfires in California history.
(FOX Weather)
The Park Fire is now in the No. 5 spot, just behind the SCU Lightning Complex Fire that burned almost 400,000 acres over a period of 46 days starting in August 2020.
Park Fire destroys nearly 200 structures
A burned home smolders during the Park fire near the Paynes Creek area of unincorporated Tehama County, California, on July 27, 2024. (Photo by JOSH EDELSON / AFP) (Photo by JOSH EDELSON/AFP via Getty Images)
(Getty Images)
CAL Fire said the wildfire has so far destroyed nearly 200 structures, including homes and businesses, with nearly 20 others receiving damage.
Watch: Park Fire continues to rage as thousands of heroic 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.
VIDEOS OF CALIFORNIA'S PARK FIRE SHOW INTENSE FLAMES, THICK SMOKE AS CREWS TRY TO BEAT BACK BLAZE
However, some of those evacuation warnings were eased Sunday 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.
HOW THE LAY OF THE LAND AFFECTS WILDFIRE BEHAVIOR
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.]()
Image 1 of 9A 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.]()
Image 2 of 9A 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: Flames quickly grow as firefighters set a backfire on the eastern front of the Park Fire. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)]()
Image 3 of 9CHICO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 28: Flames quickly grow as firefighters set a backfire on the eastern front of the Park Fire. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images) ( )
![A firefighter is seen standing near the flames from the massive Park Fire burning near Chico in Northern California.]()
Image 4 of 9A 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.]()
Image 5 of 9A 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: Flames quickly grow as firefighters set a backfire on the eastern front of the Park Fire. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)]()
Image 6 of 9CHICO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 28: Flames quickly grow as firefighters set a backfire on the eastern front of the Park Fire. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images) ( )
![CHICO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 28: A firefighter pauses to hydrate on the eastern front of the Park Fire. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)]()
Image 7 of 9CHICO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 28: A firefighter pauses to hydrate on the eastern front of the Park Fire. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images) ( )
![CHICO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 28: Flames quickly grow as firefighters set a backfire on the eastern front of the Park Fire. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)]()
Image 8 of 9CHICO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 28: Flames quickly grow as firefighters set a backfire on the eastern front of the Park Fire. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images) ( )
![CHICO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 28: Flames quickly grow as firefighters set a backfire on the eastern front of the Park Fire. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)]()
Image 9 of 9CHICO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 28: Flames quickly grow as firefighters set a backfire on the eastern front of the Park Fire. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images) ( )
CAL Fire said more than 5,300 firefighters have descended upon Northern California to help 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.
SURVIVAL EXPERT OFFERS TIPS TO PROTECT YOUR HOME FROM WILDFIRES
Home explodes as flames from California's Park Fire engulf neighborhood
The Park Fire has now consumed several homes outside Chico as it swells to over 150,000 acres. One home exploded Wednesday as the flames tore through a neighborhood. (Video courtesy: AIO Filmz Media via Storyful)
"Fire crews are providing structure defense where needed," CAL Fire said. "They are attempting to complete containment lines in some areas and gain a stronghold in the challenging topography while also engaging in mop-up where applicable."
CAL Fire said damage inspection teams continue to complete inspections within the Park Fire's perimeter and will continue to identify and verify structures that have been damaged or destroyed.