A massive fire in Northern California grew again on July 30 to nearly 610 square miles—bigger than the city of Los Angeles—making it the fifth-largest fire in state history.
The Park fire, which started on July 24 after a man allegedly pushed a burning car into a park ravine, had destroyed 361 structures—209 of which were single-family homes—by the afternoon of July 31, according to Incident Commander Billy See, an assistant fire chief for Fresno County Fire Protection District.
“We still have a lot of work to do ahead of us,” See said during an afternoon news briefing.
Nearly 6,000 fire personnel were battling the expansive blaze, aided by 41 helicopters, 521 fire engines, and nearly 200 bulldozers. The fire was 18 percent contained by July 31, according to See.
Crews were able to close 50 miles of fire line so far, See said.
Garrett Sjolund, Butte County fire chief, said some people have been able to return home after being evacuated for the past few days. There still could be hot spots around the homes, and residents were cautioned to look for any fire dangers, he said.
About 8,310 people were under evacuation warnings or orders in Butte County on July 31, as were about 1,160 in Tehama County.
Evacuation orders in north Chico and south Cohasset, a city about 18 miles northeast of Chico, were reduced to evacuation warnings as the fire moved away from some residential areas.
Arrests
The Butte County Sheriff’s Office arrested two women after entering Sycamore Valley Road in Chico on July 29. The area was under an evacuation order, according to the sheriff’s office.Delmara Apel, 41, of Cohasset, California, and Amy Jackson, 43, of Chico, California, were arrested by deputies responding to a report of possible looters in the area.
An investigation revealed that two women allegedly left the truck and ran into the area while it was under evacuation. The women were found about 1/2 mile from the truck.
Jackson was found at the bottom of a hill and allegedly did not follow deputies’ directions when they asked her to walk up the hill, according to the report.
Both women were taken to the county jail and booked on one count each of entering an area under an evacuation order. Apel was also booked on a felony count of smuggling methamphetamine into the jail after the illegal substance was allegedly found in her possession.
The Sheriff’s Department also arrested Joseph Patrick Gilbert Jr., 39, on July 25, in Palermo, about 30 miles south of Chico.
Cal Fire investigators responded to the report of a person setting fire to the grass on Lincoln Boulevard. The fire burned less than an acre before it was contained.
Gilbert was charged with arson and taken to the county jail.
Nixon Fire
A wildfire outside Temecula in Riverside County had grown to nearly eight square miles on July 31, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Management.Nearly 750 fire personnel were working to control the blaze, which was threatening at least 900 homes and buildings, according to Cal Fire.
“The Nixon fire displayed moderate fire activity and continued to burn to the south and east, adjacent to the San Diego County line and the Beauty Mountain Wilderness in steep and rugged terrain,” Cal Fire said in an update on July 31.
Lake Fire
Numerous air tankers and more than 2,000 firefighters were also battling the Lake fire in Santa Barbara County, which neared 92 percent containment by July 31.The fire had grown to nearly 60.5 square miles in an area favored by celebrities and wealthy residents.
One house was destroyed by the fire, and four other buildings were damaged. Seven fire personnel and civilians have been injured in the fire, Cal Fire reported.
