The California Fire Department is continuing its battle against the largest fire of the year, known as the 'Park Fire'. With nearly 4,900 firefighters, 33 helicopters, 400 fire trucks, and numerous aircraft, they are tackling this extremely unpredictable and volatile fire.
The blaze, which started last Wednesday near Chico in Northern California, has already destroyed over 149,700 hectares of land, an area larger than the city of Los Angeles. Evacuation orders have affected more than 26,000 people.
Although the firefighters reported some progress on Saturday, the fire quickly spread again due to increasing winds and heat. Thankfully, there have been no reported fatalities so far.
A suspect, who allegedly ignited the fire by pushing a burning car into a ravine, was arrested on Thursday. This early start to the wildfire season in California is believed to be a result of climate change, which is causing more extreme weather conditions and more frequent and intense wildfires.
In addition to the 'Park Fire', there are over 100 other wildfires burning across the US, devastating large areas and prompting evacuation warnings. The National Weather Service has issued 'red flag' warnings for several states, highlighting the dangerous fire conditions.
