Firefighting teams battling a rapidly expanding wildfire in northern California are contending with a fire that has grown more than twofold within the space of a day. The Park Fire, situated about 90 miles north of Sacramento, California’s capital, had incinerated over 350,000 acres (141,640 hectares) by Saturday evening, according to Cal Fire, the state’s Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
The advent of more humid weather and cooler temperatures is anticipated to aid in efforts to curb the fire’s proliferation. By Saturday evening, the containment was at ten per cent. Moreover, the said fire has caused the destruction of 134 buildings, as confirmed by officials.
Several communities residing in multiple counties had evacuation orders and warnings issued to them. This includes Paradise, a town that previously suffered severe effects from the 2018 Camp Fire, the most fatal fire in the history of the state.
President Joe Biden of the United States has been notified of the wildfire and has instructed his team to provide all possible support to battling the blaze, confirmed an official from the White House.
A male was detained on Thursday due to suspicions of instigating the Park Fire by setting a car ablaze and pushing it into a ravine on the previous afternoon.
There are several active fires engulfing the country, the largest of which is the Park Fire. Over 2 million acres of land have been devastated by these fires, states the National Interagency Fire Center.
In the state of Oregon, frequent fires are also being reported, with the Durkee Fire scorching over 288,000 acres in the state’s eastern region, officials confirmed.
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