A vehicle is seen scorched by the Park Fire in the Cohasset community of Butte County, Calif., on Monday, July 29, 2024. Firefighters made progress and were helped by improving weather over the weekend in the battle against wildfires covering massive areas in the western United States, but further evacuations have been necessary as thousands of personnel tackle the flames. (AP Photo/Eugene Garcia)
Some families forced out by California’s fifth largest wildfire ever are returning to find they have nothing left. Evacuation orders were lifted in parts of Butte County, where the Park Fire started last week near Chico. Cal Fire gave an update last night showing most of the 392-thousand acres burned is in neighboring Tehama County. The damage toll is also much higher at 434 homes and buildings destroyed in both counties, with another 39 damaged. But inspection teams aren’t done yet. Right now, crews have the fire 18-percent contained.
Meanwhile, California is in the midst of its most severe wildfire season in 16 years. A Bay Area News Group analysis of data from the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho shows that over 629,000 acres, nearly a thousand square miles, have burned statewide so far this year. Experts point to two wet winters in a row leading to explosive growth of grass, brush and other vegetation along with the record heat wave in June drying out the vegetation and the air.
Emergency personnel from across Sonoma County joined more than 5,800 others to assist in the Park Fire. Sonoma County Fire District sent 16 crew members, one water tender, a Cal OES fire engine, two wildland engines and two observation units.