Huge California wildfire tears through 5,000 acres every hour

A massive wildfire is currently raging in California, and it is spreading at an alarming rate. This fire, known as the Park fire, began on Wednesday and has rapidly consumed a vast area of land. It is expanding by approximately 8 square miles every hour, which is an astonishing amount of land. As of now, the fire has burned over 350,000 acres, which is more than one and a half times the size of New York City. The situation is dire, with around 3,700 firefighters working tirelessly to combat the flames. However, the steep terrain and strong winds are making their job extremely challenging. As of Sunday morning, the fire was only 10% contained, indicating that it continues to spread uncontrollably. Authorities have arrested a 42-year-old man on suspicion of starting the fire by rolling a burning car into a gully. This fire has now become the largest in California this year and the seventh largest in the state's history. Fire captain Robert Foxworthy explained that the steep landscape and limited access roads have complicated firefighting efforts. He noted that the sheer size of the fire is exacerbated by embers being blown ahead of the main blaze, igniting numerous spot fires. Cal Fire incident commander Billy See reported that the fire is spreading at a staggering rate of 5,000 acres per hour. A satellite image captured the devastation in a residential area affected by the Park fire in Chico, California. The fire has also destroyed vehicles and buildings in the region. During an operational briefing, Mr. See mentioned that the number of personnel fighting the fire on Saturday was nearly three times that of Friday, yet they still lacked sufficient resources. Scott Weese, a fire behavior expert with Cal Fire, stated that the area is experiencing a high fuel load due to an abundance of dry grass. He emphasized that the heat signature of the fire is enormous, revealing that it burned through 150,000 acres just yesterday. Firefighters were hopeful that the easing of weather conditions on Saturday would allow them to contain some of the blaze. Wind speeds decreased, and temperatures dropped by about 3-4 degrees Celsius, although they still remained in the low 30s (around 90 degrees Fahrenheit) in some areas. Cal Fire reported that the lower temperatures and increased humidity have slowed the fire's spread, but it is still growing in certain locations. On Saturday, officials noted that the likelihood of fire whirls had diminished after a rare phenomenon known as a 'firenado' was filmed swirling through the bushland the day before. The Park fire has engulfed buildings and vehicles near Chico, leaving behind charred remains. California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in Butte and Tehama counties due to the Park fire. On Saturday, he announced new federal assistance for Tehama County, following earlier assistance for Butte County. Governor Newsom stated, 'This is already one of the biggest fires in California history, and we're continuing to see dangerous conditions. Our firefighters and emergency responders are working day and night to protect our communities. Californians must heed warnings from local authorities and take steps to stay safe. ' At least 16 helicopters are currently battling the blaze, along with multiple air tankers dropping water from above when conditions permit. The wildfire has forced mandatory evacuations in Butte County, where California's deadliest fire, the Camp Fire, claimed over 80 lives in 2018. The small town of Cohasset, with a population of 400, has already been evacuated as the fire continues to rage. Cal Fire reported that 134 structures have been destroyed, while 4,200 others are under threat. Authorities arrested Ronnie Dean Stout, 42, accusing him of 'calmly leaving the area by blending in with other citizens' as he fled the rapidly evolving fire he allegedly started. He is currently being held in jail without bail while authorities determine the charges he will face. A woman who answered the door at his home in Chico claimed that prosecutors are trying to make him a scapegoat, stating, 'They’re saying he did it intentionally, but he didn’t. The car caught on fire. ' The Park fire is just one of many currently burning across the United States and Canada. The National Interagency Fire Center is monitoring 102 large fires in the US, primarily located on the west coast. In Oregon, a firefighting pilot tragically lost his life in a tanker plane crash after the aircraft went missing on Thursday night. In Canada, a significant wildfire in Jasper National Park has destroyed hundreds of buildings, but conditions have improved over the weekend, with rain and cooler temperatures aiding efforts to protect other parts of the historic tourism town. If you have been impacted by the fires, you can reach out to the BBC to share your experience.