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Thousands of firefighters are battling the rapidly growing Park Fire in northern California, which has scorched an area nearly the size of Los Angeles. The fire, which more than doubled in size over the weekend, has consumed 360,000 acres and was only 12% contained as of Sunday evening, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire).

The Epicenter of the Fire

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The blaze is centered near Chico, California, about 90 miles north of Sacramento. The fire's rapid expansion, fueled by steady winds and high temperatures, has destroyed 134 structures and prompted evacuation orders and warnings across multiple communities in Butte and Tehama counties, including a warning for Paradise. Paradise was devastated by the 2018 Camp Fire, the deadliest wildfire in California's history.

Authorities have arrested a man on suspicion of starting the Park Fire by pushing a flaming car into a gully on Wednesday. The fire quickly grew over three days, spreading northward and becoming the largest blaze in California this year. By Sunday morning, it had grown to 353,194 acres, making it the seventh-largest fire in the state's history.

Growing By Leaps and Bounds

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David Acuna, battalion chief of communication for the southern region of Cal Fire, described the fire as “growing by leaps and bounds.” The fire's growth has been exacerbated by its remote location, which has made access by fire crews difficult. Initially, containment crews faced significant setbacks, with containment dropping to 0% by Friday afternoon. However, by Sunday morning, Cal Fire reported that containment had improved to 12%.

The Weather Has Only Made Things Worse

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The fire's aggressive behavior has been attributed to steep terrain and aligning winds. Cal Fire officials noted that cooler temperatures and higher humidity in the Sacramento River Valley and Sierra Nevada foothills could help slow the fire's spread. Temperatures that had reached up to 100 degrees on Friday dropped to the mid-80s on Saturday, while humidity levels increased from the teens to 30%, according to the National Weather Service. Winds also decreased, with gusts topping out at about 20 mph, approximately 5 mph lower than Friday.

Bill Rasch, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, expressed cautious optimism, stating that improved conditions could result in less growth of the fire. Robert Foxworthy, a Cal Fire spokesman, explained:

Obviously, the higher the humidity, the lower the temperature and the less wind — those are always going to be favorable conditions for firefighting.

Firefighters Are On Top of Things

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Firefighters have been working tirelessly to light backfires, which are controlled burns designed to remove fuel and slow the fire's progress. The cooler temperatures and more humid air are providing some relief to these efforts, but the fire remains a significant challenge.

As the battle against the Park Fire continues, the focus remains on protecting lives and property while working to contain the massive blaze. The full extent of the damage is still being assessed, and the situation remains fluid as firefighters adapt to changing conditions.