Park Fire Becomes California's Largest Wildfire

Firefighters in Northern California are battling the Park Fire, which has rapidly expanded to scorch an area exceeding 540 square miles, comparable to the size of Los Angeles. Cooler temperatures and increased humidity are providing some relief and may help slow the fire's progression, which has prompted comparisons to the devastating Camp Fire of 2018. Evacuations have been ordered for several communities in Butte, Plumas, Tehama, and Shasta counties, with more than 130 structures already destroyed. The fire ignited on Wednesday after a suspect allegedly pushed a burning car into a gully in Chico. While meteorologist Marc Chenard warns that milder weather conditions do not guarantee the fires will subside, there is cautious optimism among incident commanders as they deploy additional resources. The fire remains uncontained and continues to threaten nearby towns, including Paradise, which is under an evacuation warning.