As reported by AP News, the Park Fire in California, the largest wildfire of the year in the state, was 40% contained as of Wednesday.
The fire, which has burned over 670 square miles (1,735 square kilometers), began on July 24 and spread rapidly in hot, dry conditions north of Chico in the Central Valley.
Cal Fire stated: “Firefighters are currently working on mop-up and tactical patrol operations to work towards containment and to prepare communities to be safe for repopulations.” Much of the fire remains within Lassen National Forest, where it has stayed within its perimeter.
The Park Fire is suspected to have been started by arson, with a Chico man arrested in connection with the incident.
Local authorities stated that the suspect was caught after allegedly pushing a burning car into a gully.
The Butte County district attorney’s office is handling the arson case, which remains pending.
This incident, along with favorable weather, has contributed to the slower spread of the fire in recent days.
While many of the other large fires in California are seeing progress in containment, the Boise Fire in Six Rivers National Forest remains a concern.
This fire, which began on August 9, covered more than 11 square miles (28 square kilometers) as of Wednesday and has zero containment.
Firefighters continue to face challenges in battling the Boise Fire, which was named after a local creek and is located in the northwestern part of the state.
Weather conditions have recently become more favorable for fire suppression efforts.
An increase in relative humidity has helped slow the spread of the Park Fire, according to officials.
This change in conditions is expected to continue aiding containment efforts.
The majority of the containment work is focused on securing the fire’s perimeter and preparing nearby communities for potential repopulation efforts as conditions improve.
The Park Fire, which began on July 24 near Chico, California, has now reached 40% containment, after burning over 670 square miles.
As reported by AP News, the fire is suspected to have been started by arson, with a Chico man arrested in connection with the incident.
Firefighters continue to work on containment efforts, aided by favorable weather, including increased humidity.
In contrast, the Boise Fire, located in Six Rivers National Forest, remains at zero containment after burning over 11 square miles since August 9.
