A wildfire in California’s Central Valley known as the Park Fire, has become the fourth-largest in the state’s history, burning over 400,000 acres (600 square miles). Despite efforts from more than 6,000 firefighters, extreme heat and high winds have hindered containment, which was at 27% as of Saturday. Thunderstorms provided minimal relief, only bringing winds and negligible rain.
The fire, allegedly started by a 42-year-old arsonist who rolled a flaming car into a gully near Chico has destroyed over 560 structures and displaced more than 4,000 people. Among the evacuees was Jim Young, 65 who along with his dog Sparky, spent eight days camping at a trailhead. They have now been informed that their property is safe.
Firefighters face challenging conditions with rough terrain requiring two to three hours to reach fire lines, some needing to be flown in by helicopter. The national wildfire season has been severe, prompting requests for additional help from Australia and New Zealand with reinforcements expected to arrive on August 7.