Wildfires rage across US as adverse weather looms

Sacramento, Aug 3: As firefighters continued battling massive wildfires raging across the western United States, their efforts are expected to face significant challenges this weekend due to high temperatures and approaching thunderstorms.

In Northern California, the Park Fire is currently the largest fire burning in the country and became the fourth-largest wildfire in the state’s history with the burn area reaching 399,615 acres (1,617 square km) as of Friday afternoon, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CalFire), Xinhua news agency reported.

Firefighters had made notable progress over the past three days, increasing containment to 25 per cent as of Friday afternoon. However, “while containment is growing, the fire continues to burn actively in areas with thick, dry vegetation that is receptive to burning,” said CalFire in an update.

The agency warned of “critical weather” expected through the weekend, with higher temperatures, lower humidity, and strong winds potentially leading to extreme fire behaviour and multi-directional growth.

The challenging terrain complicated firefighting efforts, hampering radio communications and making it difficult for crews to access certain areas, said CalFire.

A total of 6,375 personnel, supported by 41 helicopters, 542 engines, 180 dozers, and 148 water tenders, continued to battle the blaze along more than 320 km of the active fire front, said CalFire.

The fire has affected four counties, namely Butte, Plumas, Shasta, and Tehama, with Tehama seeing the largest burn area and Butte reporting the most damage.

As of Friday afternoon, 542 structures have been destroyed and 50 others damaged in Butte and Tehama counties. About 4,000 people have been evacuated. No death has been reported so far.

Authorities said the fire was deliberately set on July 24 in a park near Chico. A 42-year-old man, named Ronnie Dean Stout II, of Chico, has been arrested on the charge of felony arson for allegedly starting the fire.

The Park Fire is only one of the dozens of wildfires torching the state.

Two new blazes, the Nixon Fire and the Pedro Fire, ignited earlier this week, and have rapidly spread to over 5,200 acres (21 square km) and 3,800 acres (15 square km) respectively. Firefighters have made some headway, with the Nixon Fire 30 per cent contained and the Pedro Fire 35 per cent contained as of Friday.