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  • The Mirror US

    California Park Fire now one of largest on record as firefighters desperately tackle raging flames

    By Scarlett O'Toole,

    6 hours ago

    California's Park Fire has now become one of the state's largest wildfires as it's grown to more than 383,000 acres.

    Officials have confirmed the fire is now California's fifth-largest wildfire in history . A burning car is said to have started the fire after it was pushed into a Northern California gully less than a week ago.

    The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection has reported the Park Fire had grown to 385,064 acres as of Tuesday, with 14% containment. It's now grown to almost half the size of Rhode Island and is more than 12 times bigger than San Francisco.

    READ MORE: Jefferson County Quarry Fire engulfs 100 acres prompting mandatory evacuations

    READ MORE: Florida man 'burned wife alive' in horror attack after argument over air conditioning

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0WmhmB_0uivmgeg00

    The fire was started by arson on July 24 and grew to more than 70,000 acres in the first 24 hours. Four counties — Butte, Plumas, Shasta and Tehama — have been affected by the wildfire. Tehama has seen the most burned acreage so far.

    Officials have so far confirmed that 165 structures have been destroyed. More than 4,200 other buildings remain at risk. The fire is not believed to have caused any injuries or fatalities.

    The Park Fire has sparked fire tornadoes and it's even reached Lassen Volcanic National Park, which is now closed. "Three years after the Dixie Fire consumed much of the eastern portion of Lassen Volcanic National Park, the massive Park Fire is approaching the park's western edge," the park said in a statement shared on Facebook."

    It continued: "Visitors have been evacuated from all campgrounds, and reservations have been canceled. All park employees have been evacuated from park housing and their homes in the community, most staying in hotels."

    READ MORE: 'Dangerous' heatwave mapped as 'lethal' temperatures sweeping US bring major droughts

    READ MORE: Wildfires across West US put millions under air quality alerts amid 'explosive growth' of blazes

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=02bt3i_0uivmgeg00

    "We've made some really good progress on the fires," Forest Service operations section chief Tom Browning said about the fire. He added: "But it's hot, it's dry and it's very windy - With the wind and the heat, we don't have great containment on all these lines."

    Ronnie Dean Stout II has been accused of starting the fire. The 42-year-old made his first court appearance on Monday and is being charged with reckless arson along with several enhancements.

    He didn't enter a plea, according to CBS Sacramento . No bail was set and the arraignment was scheduled to continue Thursday.

    Click here to follow the Mirror US on Google News to stay up to date with all the latest news, sport and entertainment stories.

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