Park Fire burns 350,000 acres, 12% contained
UPDATE (4:19 PM): The raging Park Fire in Northern California continues to spread, impacting thousands of people now under evacuation orders and warnings in four counties.
Those evacuation warnings include parts of the Town of Paradise, bringing up painful memories for those who lived there during the 2018 Camp Fire that killed 85 people and damaged or destroyed 18,000 structures.
Since Wednesday, Cal Fire officials say the Park Fire has burned 350,000 acres, making it the largest wildfire in the state this year. It's destroyed more than 65 structures.
Thousands of firefighters are battling the wildfire, which is now 12% contained.
Those fleeing to evacuation centers can only hope their homes are spared.
"I was ready to go to bed and I hear this pounding on the door and I opened it up and he goes, 'Fire Department. Get your stuff. You're leaving' and I was like, 'Oh not again. Please not again.' It's mother nature. It's the way things go, but if you want to live in a small town like Paradise, then that's the risk you take, but I'm still willing to do that because I love Paradise, and I'm hoping that it's still there when I get back."
Evacuee from Paradise
"There are homes that are threatened by this fire, so there are homes in the areas to the north that we're talking about, there are small communities up there," said Dan Collins, spokesperson for Cal Fire.
CHICO, Calif. (NBC, KYMA/KECY) - The Park Fire in California has now topped 350,000 acres.
The largest wildfire currently burning in California topped that mark on Saturday, destroying 134 strctures along with it.
But good news is on the horizon as firefighters have now achieved 10% containment after zero containment for three days. On top of that, the weather is also improving, making containment easier.
According to authorities, the Park Fire was started on Wednesday by a man who pushed a flaming vehicle into a gulley filled with dried brush. Flames ignited quickly and began to spread thanks to hot temperatures, dry brush, and gusty winds.
With the Park Fire, current fires in California have now burned 626,000 acres and counting.
The Yuma Fire Department (YFD) announced Saturday that they have been deployed to help battle the Park Fire.
