The Park Fire, already the largest wildfire in California this year has burned over 71,000 acres in less than a day. CalFire has issued evacuation orders and warnings across Butte and Tehama counties, some reaching Chico city limits. No fatalities have been reported. The cause of the fire, currently only 3 percent contained, is under active investigation.
Some communities are in immediate danger said Rick Carhart, public information officer with Cal Fire and the Butte County Fire Department. “Cohasset and Forest Ranch are under evacuation orders now, so the structures in those areas are in immediate threat and we're hopeful that everybody has heeded the evacuation orders.”
The blaze started at approximately 4 p.m. local time Wednesday near Upper Park Road in Upper Bidwell Park, east of Chico.
According to CalFire this is the largest blaze in the state this year, currently at 71,489 acres and only three percent contained as of 1:30 p.m. local time Thursday. 2024's second largest fire is the Lake Fire near Santa Barbara which has burned at least 38,000 acres but is now 90 percent contained.