Park Fire Erupts with New Evacuations as Flames Spread Rapidly
California’s largest wildfire, the Park Fire, intensified overnight, leading to new evacuations and increasing to 414,042 acres with 34 percent containment. The fire, which ignited on July 24 in Upper Bidwell Park, has wreaked havoc in Butte and Tehama counties, destroying hundreds of homes.
After a brief slowdown, fire activity surged again on Monday evening, prompting fresh evacuations in Tehama County, including Mineral and Mill Creek near Lassen Volcanic National Park.
The AlertCalifornia cameras captured the dramatic increase, showing a massive plume of smoke rising from the fire. Firefighters, who had been making progress in containing the blaze, now face renewed challenges in controlling its spread.
The #ParkFire exhibited extreme behavior this afternoon, with a pyrocumulonimbus cloud reaching 35,000 feet.
— Active NorCal (@ActiveNorCal) August 6, 2024
There are now mandatory evacuations in the Mill Creek and Mineral areas of Tehama County. pic.twitter.com/1l9ZbcT1Sh
As of Monday morning, 636 structures have been destroyed, with 2,700 structures still at risk. This is a significant decrease from the 6,700 threatened structures reported last Thursday. At the height of the fire, around 10,000 structures were in danger.
Investigators suspect the fire was caused by arson, as a burning car was reportedly pushed into a gully in Upper Bidwell Park. While no one has been convicted, the Park Fire is currently the largest wildfire believed to have been started by arson in California.
Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency in Butte and Tehama counties. Additionally, Butte County’s public health officer has declared a local health emergency due to hazardous materials in the ash and debris. This declaration will enable the county to access programs for removing toxic substances from destroyed properties.
About 6,530 personnel, including crews from as far away as Texas, are battling the blaze.
Recent evacuations have focused on areas around Mill Creek and Mineral in Tehama County. Butte County has downgraded some evacuation orders to warnings, including areas east of Highway 32 and south of Humboldt Road, encompassing the communities of Cohasset, Inskip, Philbrook, and Butte Meadows.
In Shasta County, approximately 1,578 homes and 4,261 people have been evacuated, with another 1,909 homes and 5,154 residents under evacuation warnings.
During an evacuation order, residents must leave immediately due to imminent danger. An evacuation warning indicates potential risk, and residents are encouraged but not mandated to evacuate.
Here are the current evacuations in each county:
