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A rapidly spreading fire in northern California has quickly become one of the largest ever in the state, officials reported on Saturday. Known as the Park Fire, it had burned nearly 350,000 acres (142,000 hectares) by late Saturday morning, making it the seventh-largest fire in California history, according to Cal Fire on X.
The blaze has forced over 4,000 people to evacuate their homes and is burning through a rural, mountainous region near Chico, around 90 miles (145 kilometers) north of Sacramento.
"Extreme fire conditions continue to challenge firefighters," Cal Fire stated.
Currently, the fire is "zero percent" contained, despite the efforts of about 2,500 personnel, including more than a dozen helicopters and several planes.
"The Park Fire continued to burn aggressively due to steep terrain and winds. Extreme fire behavior has occurred due to the slope and winds aligning, causing significant growth," Cal Fire said in a Saturday update.
However, cooler weather and increased moisture are expected in the area.
The fire began on Wednesday near Chico, in Butte County, and quickly spread to neighboring Tehama County, causing extensive damage.
The latest reports indicate that 134 structures have been destroyed by the fire.
The blaze has produced a massive column of dense gray smoke, which has also affected nearby states.
On Thursday, police detained a 42-year-old man suspected of starting the fire by pushing a burning car into a ravine.
Some residents, like Julia Yarbough, have already lost their homes to the fire.
"This is what's left of my house," she told CBS on Friday, showing the blackened and still-smoking debris.
Chico is only about 15 miles from Paradise, a city devastated by a 2018 fire that became California's deadliest ever, claiming 85 lives.
The rapid growth of the Park Fire has placed Paradise under evacuation warning again, bringing back painful memories for its residents.
Experts attribute the increase in extreme weather events to climate change, accelerated by human activities.
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