The Park Fire in Northern California has burned an area larger than Los Angeles. See where it falls among California’s megafires.
CALIFORNIA — The Park Fire burning in Northern California has become one of the state’s largest wildfires in recorded history.
Cal Fire updated its list of the largest California wildfires Friday, with the Park Fire becoming the fourth-largest wildfire in state history.
The blaze, which has scorched 399,437 acres across Butte, Plumas, Shasta and Tehama counties, was 24% contained Friday morning, according to Cal Fire. The fire has destroyed 538 structures and damaged 47 others.
Thousands of residents were forced to evacuate their homes after the fire sparked July 24 in Butte County, east of Chico, then exploded in size over the following days.
Authorities said arson started the blaze.
Ronnie Dean Stout II, 42, of Chico was arrested July 25 on suspicion of arson after he was seen pushing a car that was on fire into a gully in Butte County’s Upper Bidwell Park, according to Cal Fire. He was being held without bail in Butte County Jail.
A total of 6,375 personnel were battling the flames Friday ahead of critical fire weather that could fuel the unrelenting blaze over the weekend.
“Critical weather is expected in the region through the weekend,” Cal Fire said. “Expected higher temperatures, lower humidity, and strong winds could lead to extreme fire behavior and cause the fire to grow in multiple directions.”
While the Park Fire currently sits as the fourth-largest fire, the August Complex Fire remains the largest wildfire in state history.
The blaze, which lightning sparked in August 2020, became the largest wildfire after blackening 1,032,648 acres in Mendocino, Humboldt, Trinity, Tehama, Glenn, Lake and Colusa counties. A firefighter was killed and 935 structures were destroyed in the massive fire.
As of Tuesday, wildfires have scorched a staggering 751,327 acres across the state so far this year, according to Cal Fire. Wildfire activity is 2,816% higher than last year, 29 times the amount of acreage burned.
As California copes with another devastating wildfire season, take a look at the largest fires in state history:
Top 10 Largest California Wildfires
*As of Aug. 2, 2024
1. August Complex
- Date: August 2020
- County: Mendocino, Humboldt, Trinity, Tehama, Glenn, Lake and Colusa
- Acres: 1,032,648
- Structures: 935
- Deaths: 1
2. Dixie
- Date: July 2021
- County: Butte, Plumas, Lassen, Shasta and Tehama
- Acres: 963,309
- Structures: 1,311
- Deaths: 1
3. Mendocino Complex
- Date: July 2018
- County: Colusa, Lake, Mendocino and Glenn
- Acres: 459,123
- Structures: 280
- Deaths: 1
4. Park (numbers not final)
- Date: July 2024
- County: Butte, Plumas, Shasta and Tehama
- Acres: 399,437
- Structures: 538
- Deaths: 0
5. SCU Lightning Complex
- Date: August 2020
- County: Stanislaus, Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa and San Joaquin
- Acres: 396,625
- Structures: 225
- Deaths: 0
6. Creek
- Date: September 2020
- County: Fresno and Madera
- Acres: 379,895
- Structures: 858
- Deaths: 0
7. LNU Lightning Complex
- Date: August 2020
- County: Napa, Solano, Sonoma, Yolo, Lake and Colusa
- Acres: 363,220
- Structures: 1,491
- Deaths: 6
8. North Complex
- Date: August 2020
- County: Butte, Plumas and Yuba
- Acres: 318,935
- Structures: 2,352
- Deaths: 15
9. Thomas
- Date: December 2017
- County: Ventura and Santa Barbara
- Acres: 281,893
- Structures: 1,060
- Deaths: 2
10. Cedar
- Date: October 2003
- County: San Diego
- Acres: 273,246
- Structures: 2,820
- Deaths: 15