Firefighters are making initial progress in battling wildfires that have been raging in Northern California for days. About 12 percent of the blaze north of Sacramento has been contained, Cal Fire Chief Billy See said. At times, so-called fire tornadoes have occurred (see video above).
Just a few days ago, the so-called “Park Fire” had spun out of control and quickly spread to an area of over 1,450 square kilometers – which is larger than the city of Los Angeles. According to official information, there are more than 4,000 helpers present.
Entire swaths of land have been destroyed
According to initial estimates, nearly 70 buildings were damaged or destroyed. But this number could still rise. About 4,200 people were asked to leave the danger zone.
According to Cal Fire, it is the seventh largest fire in the history of the West Coast state, with entire swaths of the country devastated.
The fire brigade fights the “Park fire”:
According to preliminary investigations, the “Park Fire” may have been caused by arson. According to their own statements, police arrested a 42-year-old suspect last week. Butte County investigators believe the man pushed a burning car down a steep embankment near the city of Chico, which started the fire.
Dozens of arrests for arson
This is not an isolated case. This year alone, there have been more than 54 arson arrests nationwide, Cal Fire said on X. The agency noted the high risk of fire: “Every spark has the potential to become the next raging wildfire.”
The fire was initially fueled by conditions including persistent winds and high temperatures, the Los Angeles Times reported. The dryness and remote location also made firefighters’ access difficult. Cooler weather helped to ease some of the firefighting efforts over the weekend.
Weather makes firefighting easier
Temperatures, which were over 37 degrees Celsius on Friday, dropped to just under 30 degrees. In addition, humidity has increased. “We are using this weather to our advantage,” the newspaper quoted a fire department spokesman as saying.
The “Park Fire” was also visible from space. Satellite images showed a large plume of smoke rising from a yellow-red area. The US climate agency NOAA posted the images from Thursday on X.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
