California’s largest wildfire is leaving a path of destruction. It’s destroyed 66 structures, damaged five and is still threatening 42-hundred. Evacuation orders and warnings remain for the counties of Butte, Plumas, Shasta and Tehama but some were downgraded yesterday. The Park Fire now tops 360-thousand acres going into day five. That’s about the size of Los Angeles, making it the state’s seventh biggest ever. Governor Newsom declared a state of emergency in Butte and Tehama counties and says he secured federal assistance for both. On Saturday, he also surveyed ongoing firefighting efforts to protect communities.
The man accused of starting the Park Fire is due in court today. Ronnie Stout was arrested Thursday and remains behind bars without bail. The Butte County district attorney says he pushed a burning car down a ravine in Chico the day before and those flames spread quickly, exploding into the Park Fire. The 48-year-old suspect is a registered sex offender. His criminal record includes a 20-year prison sentence in 2002 and a DUI arrest in 2020. That means he could get life if convicted under the “three strikes” law.
