Thousands of firefighters are battling a rapidly expanding wildfire in northern California, which more than doubled in size within 24 hours.
As of Saturday evening, the Park Fire had engulfed over 350,000 acres (141,640 hectares) approximately 90 miles (144 km) north of Sacramento, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire).
Forecasters predict cooler temperatures and more humid conditions in the region, which could aid efforts to contain the fire. By Saturday evening, the fire was 10% contained and had destroyed 134 structures.
Evacuation orders and warnings were issued for several communities across multiple counties, including a warning for Paradise, the town that was devastated by the 2018 Camp Fire, the deadliest in California’s history.
U.S. President Joe Biden has been briefed on the fire and directed his team to provide all necessary support to combat the blaze, according to a White House official.
Authorities arrested a man on Thursday on suspicion of starting the Park Fire by pushing a flaming car into a gully on Wednesday afternoon.
The Park Fire is the largest of dozens of active wildfires across the country, which have collectively burned over 2 million acres, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.
In Oregon, several fires continue to burn, including the Durkee Fire, which has consumed more than 288,000 acres in the eastern part of the state. Tragically, a firefighter died when a single-engine tanker crashed near the Falls Fire in southeastern Oregon, the U.S. Forest Service reported on Friday. Photo by U.S. Department of Agriculture, Wikimedia commons.