On July 24th a fire erupted in the Sacramento Valley city of Chico. Officials close to the situation have said that the fire was caused by arson. Just over two weeks later, this fire is still burning, wreaking havoc across California.
The Park Fire has burned 414,000 acres across the state, the dry weather allowing it to spread into four different counties. This is now officially the fourth-largest wildfire in the state’s history and the largest California has seen so far this year. As of today, 636 structures have been destroyed, including homes in the area.
In addition to the concern of citizens and their homes, there are also potential issues with the wildlife in these areas. An environmental scientist at the California Department of Fish and Wildlife said, “This fire entering the upper watershed, where we have sensitive spawning and rearing habitat, is concerning…. we’re all quite anxious about the outcome.”
With that said, according to Eric Kurth, who is a meteorologist with the National Weather Service office in the state’s capital, there is reason for optimism. “It’s not a dramatic change, it’s slow. But each day is getting a little better…that’s certainly helpful.” With the fire beginning to die down, and temperatures lowering in the coming days, things seem to be looking up.
