The Park Fire grew rapidly overnight to 307,000 acres Saturday morning — pushing north over Highway 36, the line at which fire officials had hoped the flames might stop.
The fire — the largest this year, and the 8th largest in California history — remained at zero containment Saturday morning, Cal Fire reported. The fire was less than 20 miles from Shingletown, with a population of around 2,400, east of Redding.
“Extreme fire behavior has occurred due to the slope and winds aligning, causing significant growth,” Cal Fire said in a Saturday-morning update.
The fire — which officials suspect began when a man pushed a burning car into a ravine Wednesday afternoon — has spread rapidly, fueled by high winds and dry vegetation.
Rail posts burn along Highway 36 as the Park Fire spreads near Paynes Creek in Tehama County, Calif., on Friday, July 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
Temperatures nearing triple digits Friday toughened the battle for the 1,600 firefighters attacking the fire ravaging forest and brush, along with isolated communities, in severe terrain including steep canyons in Butte and Tehama counties, Cal Fire Capt. Dan Collins said.
On Friday night, officials put the entire town of Paradise was put under an evacuation warning, asking residents to prepare for a possible evacuation.
Andrea Douglas holds her head while evacuating as the Park Fire jumps Highway 36 near Paynes Creek in Tehama County, Calif., on Friday, July 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
