Park Fire | |
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Date(s) |
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Location |
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Coordinates | 39°46′41″N 121°45′40″W / 39.778°N 121.761°W |
Statistics | |
Burned area | 429,603 acres (173,854 ha; 671 sq mi; 1,739 km2) |
Impacts | |
Deaths | 0 |
Non-fatal injuries | 3 |
Evacuated | >4,000 people |
Structures destroyed | 709 (54 damaged) |
Damage | $310 million (firefighting costs) |
Ignition | |
Cause | Arson |
Map | |
The footprint of the Park Fire in Butte and Tehama counties as of August 15 | |
The Park Fire was a massive wildfire in Northern California's Butte and Tehama counties. It ignited on July 24, 2024 in an alleged act of arson in the city of Chico's Bidwell Park in Butte County. Defying initial fire suppression efforts, the Park Fire grew rapidly over the following days, burning into the Ishi Wilderness and the Lassen National Forest. Thousands of people in foothill communities evacuated, Lassen Volcanic National Park closed to the public, and hundreds of buildings were destroyed. The fire burned a total of 429,603 acres (173,854 hectares) before being fully contained on September 26, 2024. Fire suppression operations cost $310 million.
The Park Fire became the largest wildfire of California's 2024 wildfire season, the fourth largest in California history, the second largest single wildfire (as compared to a wildfire complex, with multiple ignition points), and the largest fire ever caused by arson in the state.