Fast-growing Park Fire is already California’s largest wildfire of 2024: state officials — Man arrested as firefighters contain just 3% of 120,000-acre blaze

3 comments

1. [By Don Sweeney](https://www.sacbee.com/news/california/fires/article290425584.html):

   *Firefighters have contained just 3% of the more than 120,000-acre blaze burning across Butte and Tehama counties after sparks ignited Wednesday in the open spaces of Upper Bidwell Park on the outskirts of Chico, The Sacramento Bee reported.*

   *As of Friday, the Park Fire was the state’s largest wildfire of 2024, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.*

   *It has already surpassed the Lake Fire, which has scorched 38,664 acres in Santa Barbara County since it began July 5. That fire is now 90% contained, according to Cal Fire.*

   *The Lightning Complex fires in Tulare County have burned 31,309 acres since July 13 and are 10% contained, Cal Fire said.*
   ___

   [County DA Michael Ramsey](https://www.buttecounty.net/DocumentCenter/View/13770/July-25-2024—CHICO-MAN-ARRESTED-FOR-PARK-FIRE-ARSON—UPDATE):

   *A 42-year-old Chico man was arrested early this morning by Cal Fire arson investigators, assisted by District Attorney investigators on suspicion of starting the Park Fire.*

   *Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey said the man was arrested after an unknown male was seen pushing a car that was on fire into a gully near the Alligator Hole in upper Bidwell Park shortly before 3:00 p.m. yesterday.*

   *The car went down an embankment approximately 60 feet and burned completely, spreading flames that caused the Park Fire.*

   *The male was then seen calmly leaving the area by blending in with the other citizens who were in the area and fleeing the rapidly evolving fire.*

2. Heartbreaking

3. Call the man what he is – an ecoterrorist.