95-761: 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
190-534: A bushfire is an unplanned, uncontrolled and unpredictable fire in an area of combustible vegetation . Depending on the type of vegetation present, a wildfire may be more specifically identified as a bushfire ( in Australia ), desert fire, grass fire, hill fire, peat fire, prairie fire, vegetation fire, or veld fire. Some natural forest ecosystems depend on wildfire. Wildfires are different from controlled or prescribed burning , which are carried out to provide
285-564: A defensible space be maintained by clearing flammable materials within a prescribed distance from the structure. Communities in the Philippines also maintain fire lines 5 to 10 meters (16 to 33 ft) wide between the forest and their village, and patrol these lines during summer months or seasons of dry weather. Continued residential development in fire-prone areas and rebuilding structures destroyed by fires has been met with criticism. The ecological benefits of fire are often overridden by
380-535: A fire lookout post built in 1936 overlooking Mill Creek Canyon, was destroyed. Electrical infrastructure was also lost in the fire, including transformers, power line segments, and 450 power line poles, mostly in the vicinity of Cohasset and Forest Ranch. Three thousand people serviced by Pacific Gas & Electric lost power; service was restored to two-thirds of those customers by Tuesday, July 30. The fire prompted evacuation orders for parts of Butte, Shasta and Tehama counties, including residential areas near Chico and
475-540: A "direct hit" from the fire. Amid the damage inspection process, Cal Fire incident commander described the survival rate for buildings in the fire area as 66 to 68 percent. The fire burned the majority of the Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve, a 7,800-acre (3,200 ha) property owned and used for educational purposes by Chico State University . Multiple buildings there burned, including a historic barn and university offices. The McCarthy Point Lookout,
570-465: A 15 mile radius. Additionally, Sensaio Tech , based in Brazil and Toronto, has released a sensor device that continuously monitors 14 different variables common in forests, ranging from soil temperature to salinity. This information is connected live back to clients through dashboard visualizations, while mobile notifications are provided regarding dangerous levels. Satellite and aerial monitoring through
665-470: A 24-hour fire day that begins at 10:00 a.m. due to the predictable increase in intensity resulting from the daytime warmth. Climate change promotes the type of weather that makes wildfires more likely. In some areas, an increase of wildfires has been attributed directly to climate change. Evidence from Earth's past also shows more fire in warmer periods. Climate change increases evapotranspiration . This can cause vegetation and soils to dry out. When
760-663: A benefit for people. Modern forest management often engages in prescribed burns to mitigate fire risk and promote natural forest cycles. However, controlled burns can turn into wildfires by mistake. Wildfires can be classified by cause of ignition, physical properties, combustible material present, and the effect of weather on the fire. Wildfire severity results from a combination of factors such as available fuels, physical setting, and weather. Climatic cycles with wet periods that create substantial fuels, followed by drought and heat, often precede severe wildfires. These cycles have been intensified by climate change . Wildfires are
855-405: A car was ablaze and that it had just set the grass around it on fire. The location given by the callers was Alligator Hole in the upper portion of Bidwell Park, near Upper Park Road. The first firefighting personnel on scene reported a fire of four to five acres (1.6 to 2.0 ha) in size. During the initial fight to contain the fire, air tankers were unable to perform water or fire retardant drops;
950-485: A common type of disaster in some regions, including Siberia (Russia), California (United States), British Columbia (Canada), and Australia . Areas with Mediterranean climates or in the taiga biome are particularly susceptible. Wildfires can severely impact humans and their settlements. Effects include for example the direct health impacts of smoke and fire, as well as destruction of property (especially in wildland–urban interfaces ), and economic losses. There
1045-672: A community of several hundred people northeast of Chico in Butte County that is usually accessible only by Cohasset Road, found themselves unable to leave when flames overran the way. At around 8:00 p.m., a convoy of 100–150 people eventually made their way out to California State Route 32 via logging roads when Sierra Pacific Industries (SPI), which owns much of the land surrounding the town, unlocked gates on their property. Many people remained in Cohasset, however, and at 9:00 p.m. Cal Fire directed that two National Guard helicopters fly to Cohasset for possible evacuations. At 9:10 p.m.
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#17328446841361140-610: A fire starts in an area with very dry vegetation, it can spread rapidly. Higher temperatures can also lengthen the fire season. This is the time of year in which severe wildfires are most likely, particularly in regions where snow is disappearing. Weather conditions are raising the risks of wildfires. But the total area burnt by wildfires has decreased. This is mostly because savanna has been converted to cropland , so there are fewer trees to burn. Climate variability including heat waves , droughts , and El Niño , and regional weather patterns, such as high-pressure ridges, can increase
1235-530: A new fire detection tool is in operation at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service (USFS) which uses data from the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (NPP) satellite to detect smaller fires in more detail than previous space-based products. The high-resolution data is used with a computer model to predict how a fire will change direction based on weather and land conditions. In 2014, an international campaign
1330-415: A number expected to rise to 30,000 by 2050. The economic impact is also significant, with projected costs reaching $ 240 billion annually by 2050, surpassing other climate-related damages. Over the past century, wildfires have accounted for 20–25% of global carbon emissions, the remainder from human activities. Global carbon emissions from wildfires through August 2020 equaled the average annual emissions of
1425-545: A policy of allowing some wildfires to burn is the cheapest method and an ecologically appropriate policy for many forests, they tend not to take into account the economic value of resources that are consumed by the fire, especially merchantable timber. Some studies conclude that while fuels may also be removed by logging, such thinning treatments may not be effective at reducing fire severity under extreme weather conditions. Building codes in fire-prone areas typically require that structures be built of flame-resistant materials and
1520-428: A population of 847. The population density was 33.5 inhabitants per square mile (12.9/km ). The racial makeup of Cohasset was 764 (90.2%) White , 8 (0.9%) African American , 14 (1.7%) Native American , 2 (0.2%) Asian , 1 (0.1%) Pacific Islander , 20 (2.4%) from other races , and 38 (4.5%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 43 persons (5.1%). The Census reported that 847 people (100% of
1615-503: A possible resolution to human operator error. These systems may be semi- or fully automated and employ systems based on the risk area and degree of human presence, as suggested by GIS data analyses. An integrated approach of multiple systems can be used to merge satellite data, aerial imagery, and personnel position via Global Positioning System (GPS) into a collective whole for near-realtime use by wireless Incident Command Centers . A small, high risk area that features thick vegetation,
1710-399: A press conference on Saturday morning that since its ignition the fire had been expanding at the rate of 5,000 acres (2,000 ha) per hour: "...to put that into perspective, we’re looking at almost eight square miles [21 km] an hour this thing is taking out". A Cal Fire spokesperson told SFGate later that day that "This fire is going to burn for another couple weeks for sure. Even if
1805-531: A rapid forward rate of spread (FROS) when burning through dense uninterrupted fuels. They can move as fast as 10.8 kilometres per hour (6.7 mph) in forests and 22 kilometres per hour (14 mph) in grasslands. Wildfires can advance tangential to the main front to form a flanking front, or burn in the opposite direction of the main front by backing . They may also spread by jumping or spotting as winds and vertical convection columns carry firebrands (hot wood embers) and other burning materials through
1900-681: A remote site and sent via overnight mail to the fire manager . During the Yellowstone fires of 1988 , a data station was established in West Yellowstone , permitting the delivery of satellite-based fire information in approximately four hours. Public hotlines, fire lookouts in towers, and ground and aerial patrols can be used as a means of early detection of forest fires. However, accurate human observation may be limited by operator fatigue , time of day, time of year, and geographic location. Electronic systems have gained popularity in recent years as
1995-502: A second group of 80-100 people, led by SPI employees, made their way via more logging roads north to California State Route 36 from upper Cohasset Road. By 10:15 p.m., the Park Fire had burned 6,465 acres (2,616 ha). As it spread north, the fire established itself in the Ishi Wilderness , an area with little history of wildfire, heavy vegetation cover, and few easy access routes for ground-based firefighting personnel. The fire produced pyrocumulus clouds and burned actively into
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#17328446841362090-569: A strong human presence, or is close to a critical urban area can be monitored using a local sensor network . Detection systems may include wireless sensor networks that act as automated weather systems: detecting temperature, humidity, and smoke. These may be battery-powered, solar-powered, or tree-rechargeable : able to recharge their battery systems using the small electrical currents in plant material. Larger, medium-risk areas can be monitored by scanning towers that incorporate fixed cameras and sensors to detect smoke or additional factors such as
2185-779: A susceptible area: an ignition source is brought into contact with a combustible material such as vegetation that is subjected to enough heat and has an adequate supply of oxygen from the ambient air. A high moisture content usually prevents ignition and slows propagation, because higher temperatures are needed to evaporate any water in the material and heat the material to its fire point . Dense forests usually provide more shade, resulting in lower ambient temperatures and greater humidity , and are therefore less susceptible to wildfires. Less dense material such as grasses and leaves are easier to ignite because they contain less water than denser material such as branches and trunks. Plants continuously lose water by evapotranspiration , but water loss
2280-545: Is 1655909 and NAD27 coordinates for the community are 39°55′32″N 121°43′48″W / 39.92556°N 121.73000°W / 39.92556; -121.73000 . The ZIP Code for the community is 95973, which is shared with about seven other nearby towns, and the area code 530 . In late July 2024, the town of Cohasset was significantly impacted and partially destroyed by the Park Fire with no recorded fatalities. The town has since been repopulated. The primary airport
2375-616: Is a census-designated place in Butte County, California , United States, approximately 17.7 miles (28.5 km) NNE of Chico, California . The name derives from the Algonquian Indian language and means "long rocky place". The population was 847 at the 2010 census. The town is a mountain community at 2,828 feet (862 m) above mean sea level . It sits on Cohasset Ridge: an eleven-mile (18 km) ridge running roughly southwest-to-northeast. The U.S. Geological Survey feature ID
2470-448: Is also the potential for contamination of water and soil. At a global level, human practices have made the impacts of wildfire worse, with a doubling in land area burned by wildfires compared to natural levels. Humans have impacted wildfire through climate change (e.g. more intense heat waves and droughts ), land-use change , and wildfire suppression . The carbon released from wildfires can add to carbon dioxide concentrations in
2565-721: Is no longer an expectation, but the majority of wildfires are often extinguished before they grow out of control. While more than 99% of the 10,000 new wildfires each year are contained, escaped wildfires under extreme weather conditions are difficult to suppress without a change in the weather. Wildfires in Canada and the US burn an average of 54,500 square kilometers (13,000,000 acres) per year. Above all, fighting wildfires can become deadly. A wildfire's burning front may also change direction unexpectedly and jump across fire breaks. Intense heat and smoke can lead to disorientation and loss of appreciation of
2660-473: Is prone to offset errors, anywhere from 2 to 3 kilometers (1 to 2 mi) for MODIS and AVHRR data and up to 12 kilometers (7.5 mi) for GOES data. Satellites in geostationary orbits may become disabled, and satellites in polar orbits are often limited by their short window of observation time. Cloud cover and image resolution may also limit the effectiveness of satellite imagery. Global Forest Watch provides detailed daily updates on fire alerts. In 2015
2755-693: Is the Chico Municipal Airport . In the mid-19th century the local lumber and farming operations began, prior to which the Maidu inhabited the area for many generations. By the early 20th century, Cohasset was famous for its high quality apples. Today, they are better known for peaceful country living, the Annual Cohasset Bazaar, and the beauty of the Cohasset Ridge. A post office operated at Cohasset from 1888 to 1920. The early lumbermen designated
2850-554: Is toxic to fish—into waterways, and post-fire rains may wash sediment and debris into the water, causing algal blooms, suffocating fish, or blocking parts of the river. Such an event occurred in 2022 in the Klamath River after flash floods in the McKinney Fire burn scar. The fire caused an unanticipated second bloom of native milkweed at the Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve. The Butte County District Attorney's office announced
2945-416: Is usually balanced by water absorbed from the soil, humidity, or rain. When this balance is not maintained, often as a consequence of droughts , plants dry out and are therefore more flammable. A wildfire front is the portion sustaining continuous flaming combustion, where unburned material meets active flames, or the smoldering transition between unburned and burned material. As the front approaches,
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3040-680: The 2023 Canadian wildfires false claims of arson gained traction on social media; however, arson is generally not a main cause of wildfires in Canada. In California, generally 6–10% of wildfires annually are arson. Coal seam fires burn in the thousands around the world, such as those in Burning Mountain , New South Wales; Centralia , Pennsylvania; and several coal-sustained fires in China . They can also flare up unexpectedly and ignite nearby flammable material. (Fire) Good luck deleting this, Frost! (Fire) The spread of wildfires varies based on
3135-957: The Amazon rainforest . The fires in the latter were caused mainly by illegal logging . The smoke from the fires expanded on huge territory including major cities, dramatically reducing air quality. As of August 2020, the wildfires in that year were 13% worse than in 2019 due primarily to climate change , deforestation and agricultural burning. The Amazon rainforest 's existence is threatened by fires. Record-breaking wildfires in 2021 occurred in Turkey , Greece and Russia , thought to be linked to climate change. The carbon released from wildfires can add to greenhouse gas concentrations. Climate models do not yet fully reflect this feedback . Wildfires release large amounts of carbon dioxide, black and brown carbon particles, and ozone precursors such as volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides (NOx) into
3230-557: The European Union . In 2020, the carbon released by California's wildfires was significantly larger than the state's other carbon emissions. Forest fires in Indonesia in 1997 were estimated to have released between 0.81 and 2.57 giga tonnes (0.89 and 2.83 billion short tons ) of CO 2 into the atmosphere, which is between 13–40% of the annual global carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels. In June and July 2019, fires in
3325-472: The Fire Information for Resource Management System (FIRMS). Between 2022–2023, wildfires throughout North America prompted an uptake in the delivery and design of various technologies using artificial intelligence for early detection, prevention, and prediction of wildfires. Wildfire suppression depends on the technologies available in the area in which the wildfire occurs. In less developed nations
3420-500: The Paris climate agreement . Due to the complex oxidative chemistry occurring during the transport of wildfire smoke in the atmosphere, the toxicity of emissions was indicated to increase over time. Atmospheric models suggest that these concentrations of sooty particles could increase absorption of incoming solar radiation during winter months by as much as 15%. The Amazon is estimated to hold around 90 billion tons of carbon. As of 2019,
3515-410: The dry season . In middle latitudes , the most common human causes of wildfires are equipment generating sparks (chainsaws, grinders, mowers, etc.), overhead power lines , and arson . Arson may account for over 20% of human caused fires. However, in the 2019–20 Australian bushfire season "an independent study found online bots and trolls exaggerating the role of arson in the fires." In
3610-546: The Algonquin Indian language. There was a precedent for this in Cohasset, Massachusetts , a charming resort town of pines and rocks located on the seacoast southeast of Boston. The new name was satisfactory and the first Cohasset, California post office was established February 20, 1888. Cohasset first appeared as a census designated place in the 2010 U.S. Census . The 2010 United States Census reported that Cohasset had
3705-459: The Arctic emitted more than 140 megatons of carbon dioxide, according to an analysis by CAMS. To put that into perspective this amounts to the same amount of carbon emitted by 36 million cars in a year. The recent wildfires and their massive CO 2 emissions mean that it will be important to take them into consideration when implementing measures for reaching greenhouse gas reduction targets accorded with
3800-508: The Park Fire caused officials in Reno, Nevada to issue an air quality emergency on July 30 when air quality indices reached unhealthy levels. Environmental scientists and officials fear that the Park Fire will negatively impact endangered populations of spring-run Chinook salmon in Tehama County's Mill Creek and Deer Creek watersheds. Firefighting operations can introduce fire retardant—which
3895-483: The Park Fire had burned 164,286 acres (66,484 ha) and was zero percent contained. Evacuation orders were in place for northeastern Chico, Forest Ranch, and Cohasset in Butte County, and Campbellville in Tehama County. On Friday, the fire crossed Highway 36 near Paynes Creek. The Park Fire surpassed 300,000 acres (120,000 ha) in burned area by the morning of Saturday, July 27, less than 72 hours after ignition. The Cal Fire incident commander, Billy See, estimated at
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3990-553: The Park Fire the largest wildfire in California in 2024 and the fourth largest in California history. Fire suppression operations have cost $ 310 million. Butte County declared a local state of emergency on Friday, July 25. On Sunday, July 26, California governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency for areas affected in Butte and Tehama counties. The White House released a statement
4085-535: The Sierra Nevada. Shortly before 3:00 p.m. PDT on Wednesday, July 24, Chico resident Ronnie Dean Stout II, 42, driving his mother's 2007 Toyota Yaris , pulled it over to the side of a road in the Upper Park and went over a berm . The car became stuck in grass and Stout revved the engine to try and free it, setting the grass beneath the vehicle afire and then the car itself. Stout claimed that he panicked and left
4180-498: The United States in the early 20th century and fires were reported using telephones, carrier pigeons , and heliographs . Aerial and land photography using instant cameras were used in the 1950s until infrared scanning was developed for fire detection in the 1960s. However, information analysis and delivery was often delayed by limitations in communication technology. Early satellite-derived fire analyses were hand-drawn on maps at
4275-714: The Western US, earlier snowmelt and associated warming has also been associated with an increase in length and severity of the wildfire season, or the most fire-prone time of the year. A 2019 study indicates that the increase in fire risk in California may be partially attributable to human-induced climate change . In the summer of 1974–1975 (southern hemisphere), Australia suffered its worst recorded wildfire, when 15% of Australia's land mass suffered "extensive fire damage". Fires that summer burned up an estimated 117 million hectares (290 million acres ; 1,170,000 square kilometres ; 450,000 square miles ). In Australia,
4370-435: The air over roads, rivers, and other barriers that may otherwise act as firebreaks . Torching and fires in tree canopies encourage spotting, and dry ground fuels around a wildfire are especially vulnerable to ignition from firebrands. Spotting can create spot fires as hot embers and firebrands ignite fuels downwind from the fire. In Australian bushfires , spot fires are known to occur as far as 20 kilometres (12 mi) from
4465-720: The annual number of hot days (above 35 °C) and very hot days (above 40 °C) has increased significantly in many areas of the country since 1950. The country has always had bushfires but in 2019, the extent and ferocity of these fires increased dramatically. For the first time catastrophic bushfire conditions were declared for Greater Sydney. New South Wales and Queensland declared a state of emergency but fires were also burning in South Australia and Western Australia. In 2019, extreme heat and dryness caused massive wildfires in Siberia , Alaska , Canary Islands , Australia , and in
4560-463: The arrest of Ronnie Dean Stout II (born January 10, 1982), a 42-year-old resident of Chico on July 25, the second day of the fire. Stout was held under suspicion of having ignited the Park Fire by pushing a flaming 2007 Toyota Yaris —belonging to his mother—off an embankment in Bidwell Park. The district attorney's office alleged that the suspect blended in with other members of the public who fled from
4655-470: The atmosphere and thus contribute to the greenhouse effect . This creates a climate change feedback . Naturally occurring wildfires can have beneficial effects on those ecosystems that have evolved with fire. In fact, many plant species depend on the effects of fire for growth and reproduction. The ignition of a fire takes place through either natural causes or human activity (deliberate or not). Natural occurrences that can ignite wildfires without
4750-444: The atmosphere. These emissions affect radiation, clouds, and climate on regional and even global scales. Wildfires also emit substantial amounts of semi-volatile organic species that can partition from the gas phase to form secondary organic aerosol (SOA) over hours to days after emission. In addition, the formation of the other pollutants as the air is transported can lead to harmful exposures for populations in regions far away from
4845-445: The car later and found it in neutral. Stout was arrested by Butte County District Attorney's Office and Cal Fire investigators at his residence in a Chico mobile home park at 1:30 a.m. the next day, ten and a half hours after the fire's ignition. The Park Fire is the largest arson-caused wildfire in California history. The first report of the Park Fire came at 2:44 p.m., when at least two people made calls to 911 reporting that
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#17328446841364940-417: The car without moving it. Eyewitness accounts assert that Stout instead put it in neutral and then pushed the burning vehicle backwards off the embankment, whereupon it fell approximately 60 feet (18 m) and landed in a ravine. The car continued to burn, and the flames spread to nearby vegetation. Witnesses claim Stout joined the crowd fleeing the growing fire. California Highway Patrol investigators examined
5035-538: The city's airport. By the morning of Thursday, July 25, more than 4,000 people were subject to evacuation orders, including the entire community of Cohasset . Included in the evacuation orders were specific areas to evacuate and shelter large and small animals. The Tehama County Sheriff's Office provided short escorts into specific evacuation zones for owners to evacuate or care for animals that may have been left behind. The North Valley Animal Disaster Group hosted many evacuated pets and large animals for those evacuated due to
5130-490: The county ranges from the flat Central Valley in the west to the forested Sierra Nevada in the east, with grasslands , oak woodlands , and chaparral landscapes in between. Hot and dry summer weather, fire-receptive vegetation, and large roadless areas help enable wildfires in the region to become large. According to an analysis by The New York Times , 38 percent of Butte County and 40 percent of Tehama County burned in wildfires between 2014 and 2024. The area burned in 2014–2024
5225-540: The damage done by fire suppression efforts (such as erosion and the creation of firebreaks) in Butte County in mid-August, anticipating that it would take two to three months to complete that work around the entire fire perimeter. The National Weather Service office in Sacramento issued a 24-hour flash flood watch for the entirety of the Park Fire burn scar, warning of potential debris flows from scattered showers and thunderstorms on August 23–24. All weather stations within
5320-557: The day before the Park Fire ignited, approximately 287,000 acres (116,000 ha) had burned across the state. This was more than twice the year-to-date average. Butte County, where the fire began, has endured several of the state's largest, deadliest, and most destructive wildfires. The Camp Fire in 2018, the North Complex Fire in 2020, and the Dixie Fire in 2021 all burned at least partially within Butte County. The topography of
5415-651: The direction of the fire, which can make fires particularly dangerous. For example, during the 1949 Mann Gulch fire in Montana , United States, thirteen smokejumpers died when they lost their communication links, became disoriented, and were overtaken by the fire. In the Australian February 2009 Victorian bushfires , at least 173 people died and over 2,029 homes and 3,500 structures were lost when they became engulfed by wildfire. Cohasset, California Cohasset (formerly known as Keefers Ridge and North Point )
5510-693: The earth's atmosphere has 415 parts per million of carbon, and the destruction of the Amazon would add about 38 parts per million. Some research has shown wildfire smoke can have a cooling effect. Research in 2007 stated that black carbon in snow changed temperature three times more than atmospheric carbon dioxide. As much as 94 percent of Arctic warming may be caused by dark carbon on snow that initiates melting. The dark carbon comes from fossil fuels burning, wood and other biofuels, and forest fires. Melting can occur even at low concentrations of dark carbon (below five parts per billion)". Wildfire prevention refers to
5605-411: The economic and safety benefits of protecting structures and human life. The demand for timely, high-quality fire information has increased in recent years. Fast and effective detection is a key factor in wildfire fighting. Early detection efforts were focused on early response, accurate results in both daytime and nighttime, and the ability to prioritize fire danger. Fire lookout towers were used in
5700-402: The fire front. Especially large wildfires may affect air currents in their immediate vicinities by the stack effect : air rises as it is heated, and large wildfires create powerful updrafts that will draw in new, cooler air from surrounding areas in thermal columns . Great vertical differences in temperature and humidity encourage pyrocumulus clouds , strong winds, and fire whirls with
5795-417: The fire heats both the surrounding air and woody material through convection and thermal radiation . First, wood is dried as water is vaporized at a temperature of 100 °C (212 °F). Next, the pyrolysis of wood at 230 °C (450 °F) releases flammable gases. Finally, wood can smolder at 380 °C (720 °F) or, when heated sufficiently, ignite at 590 °C (1,000 °F). Even before
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#17328446841365890-458: The fire stopped tomorrow, there would still be weeks of work to do. This is a long-duration fire." Thousands of firefighters battled to contain the fire as of 29 July 2024. Greg Abbott , the governor of Texas , deployed resources to assist in California wildfire response. Between August 9 and August 16, containment increased by 15 percent. Firefighters achieved 50 percent containment of the fire's perimeter on August 17. Crews began work to repair
5985-459: The fire was burning beneath high-voltage power lines that the aircraft could not release on top of. From its ignition point the Park Fire spread north, burning some of the park's eastern portion, driven by winds out of the south of up to 24 miles per hour (39 km/h). The fire had burned 500 acres (200 ha) by 5:00 p.m., 1,000 acres (400 ha) by 5:54 p.m., and 1,500 acres (610 ha) within another hour. Residents of Cohasset ,
6080-568: The fire's first 12 hours, it grew at a rate of 4,000 acres (1,600 ha) per hour. By mid-day on Thursday, July 25, the Park Fire had burned 71,000 acres (29,000 ha). At 4:40 p.m., the Butte County Sheriff's Office issued voluntary evacuation warnings for northwestern portions of the city of Paradise, which had been devastated by the Camp Fire in 2018. The fire also generated a fire whirl . On Friday morning, Cal Fire reported that
6175-400: The fire's perimeter recorded greater than one-half inch (1.3 cm) of rain during this period. On Saturday the 24th, firefighters observed no active flames and containment of the perimeter reached 71 percent by that night, one month to the day after the fire's ignition. On September 26, the fire reached 100 percent containment, after burning a total of 429,603 acres (173,854 ha), making
6270-487: The fire.On July 28, Shingletown was evacuated on the north side of the fire. On July 30, two women were arrested for re-entering Cohasset while it remained under a mandatory evacuation order and a man was separately arrested for entering an evacuation zone in Shingletown. The last remaining evacuation warnings, for parts of Tehama County, were lifted on August 20. On Saturday, July 27, Lassen Volcanic National Park closed to
6365-452: The flames of a wildfire arrive at a particular location, heat transfer from the wildfire front warms the air to 800 °C (1,470 °F), which pre-heats and dries flammable materials, causing materials to ignite faster and allowing the fire to spread faster. High-temperature and long-duration surface wildfires may encourage flashover or torching : the drying of tree canopies and their subsequent ignition from below. Wildfires have
6460-421: The flammable material present, its vertical arrangement and moisture content, and weather conditions. Fuel arrangement and density is governed in part by topography , as land shape determines factors such as available sunlight and water for plant growth. Overall, fire types can be generally characterized by their fuels as follows: Wildfires occur when all the necessary elements of a fire triangle come together in
6555-441: The force of tornadoes at speeds of more than 80 kilometres per hour (50 mph). Rapid rates of spread, prolific crowning or spotting, the presence of fire whirls, and strong convection columns signify extreme conditions. Intensity also increases during daytime hours. Burn rates of smoldering logs are up to five times greater during the day due to lower humidity, increased temperatures, and increased wind speeds. Sunlight warms
6650-450: The ground during the day which creates air currents that travel uphill. At night the land cools, creating air currents that travel downhill. Wildfires are fanned by these winds and often follow the air currents over hills and through valleys. Fires in Europe occur frequently during the hours of 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. Wildfire suppression operations in the United States revolve around
6745-452: The growing fire. Stout has two prior felony convictions: a 2001 child molestation conviction in Butte County, and a 2002 robbery conviction in Kern County . After the latter, Stout remained in prison for 19 years. At the time of his arrest in connection of the Park Fire, Stout was on probation for a previous DUI charge. Stout was held in Butte County jail without any possibility of bail. He
6840-490: The infrared signature of carbon dioxide produced by fires. Additional capabilities such as night vision , brightness detection, and color change detection may also be incorporated into sensor arrays . The Department of Natural Resources signed a contract with PanoAI for the installation of 360 degree 'rapid detection' cameras around the Pacific northwest, which are mounted on cell towers and are capable of 24/7 monitoring of
6935-470: The involvement of humans include lightning , volcanic eruptions , sparks from rock falls, and spontaneous combustions . Sources of human-caused fire may include arson, accidental ignition, or the uncontrolled use of fire in land-clearing and agriculture such as the slash-and-burn farming in Southeast Asia. In the tropics , farmers often practice the slash-and-burn method of clearing fields during
7030-422: The largest fire ever caused by arson in the state. The brisk expansion of the Park Fire in late July was driven in large part by antecedent hot and dry conditions. July of 2024 was California's hottest month ever recorded, stoked by a heatwave almost two weeks in duration focused on the interior of the state. Areas in the fire's vicinity endured temperatures of 100 to 110 degrees Fahrenheit (38 to 43 °C) during
7125-407: The need of a postal facility but balked at the requested name. There were already too many stations in the country with either North or Point in their names so it was requested that another name be selected. For a name selecting committee two young ladies of the ridge, Miss Marie Wilson and Miss Electa Welch (the school teacher) were appointed and they chose the name Cohasset, meaning "City of Pines" in
7220-534: The night. Despite the efforts of ground crews and three night-flying helicopters, the wind-driven fire continued to burn largely north—parallel to California State Route 99 —and into Tehama County. At 3:00 a.m. Cal Fire announced that the fire had so far burned 45,549 acres (18,433 ha); this made it the largest wildfire of the year in California, surpassing the 38,664-acre (15,647 ha) Lake Fire in Southern California's Santa Barbara County . During
7315-619: The population) lived in households, 0 (0%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized. There were 355 households, out of which 98 (27.6%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 188 (53.0%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 22 (6.2%) had a female householder with no husband present, 25 (7.0%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 21 (5.9%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships , and 2 (0.6%) same-sex married couples or partnerships . 96 households (27.0%) were made up of individuals, and 32 (9.0%) had someone living alone who
7410-568: The population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 163 people (19.2%) lived in rental housing units. The citizens of Cohasset, as constituents of California's 1st Assembly District , are represented by Republican Megan Dahle in the California State Assembly , and as members of California's 4th Senate District , are represented by Republican Marie Alvarado-Gil in the California State Senate . Cohasset
7505-480: The preemptive methods aimed at reducing the risk of fires as well as lessening its severity and spread. Prevention techniques aim to manage air quality, maintain ecological balances, protect resources, and to affect future fires. Prevention policies must consider the role that humans play in wildfires, since, for example, 95% of forest fires in Europe are related to human involvement. Wildfire prevention programs around
7600-454: 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
7695-469: The public: evacuating visitors from campgrounds, employees from park housing, and cancelling reservations. Park officials cited concerns that the Park Fire could encroach upon the national park's western side, including Manzanita Lake and park headquarters in the community of Mineral . The fire did not burn into the park itself, which partially reopened on August 17. The closed portion of California State Route 32 reopened on August 15. Drifting smoke from
7790-506: The ridge after the pineries. A school district was formed July 16, 1878 to provide a place of learning for the children of the growing number of pioneer families and was given the name of North Point District. The entire ridge came to be known by the name of North Point. In 1887, the ridge residents requested the United States Government to establish a post office there, to be named North Point. The Post Office Department concurred in
7885-404: The risk and alter the behavior of wildfires dramatically. Years of high precipitation can produce rapid vegetation growth, which when followed by warmer periods can encourage more widespread fires and longer fire seasons. High temperatures dry out the fuel loads and make them more flammable, increasing tree mortality and posing significant risks to global forest health. Since the mid-1980s, in
7980-435: The same day, noting that President Joe Biden had been briefed on the fire and had "directed his team to do everything possible to support ongoing fire suppression". Shasta County declared a local state of emergency on July 31, 2024. At least three firefighters sustained heat-related injuries. The fire destroyed 709 structures and damaged 54 others. An unknown number of structures burned in the community of Cohasset, which took
8075-399: The techniques used can be as simple as throwing sand or beating the fire with sticks or palm fronds. In more advanced nations, the suppression methods vary due to increased technological capacity. Silver iodide can be used to encourage snow fall, while fire retardants and water can be dropped onto fires by unmanned aerial vehicles , planes , and helicopters . Complete fire suppression
8170-936: The use of planes, helicopter, or UAVs can provide a wider view and may be sufficient to monitor very large, low risk areas. These more sophisticated systems employ GPS and aircraft-mounted infrared or high-resolution visible cameras to identify and target wildfires. Satellite-mounted sensors such as Envisat 's Advanced Along Track Scanning Radiometer and European Remote-Sensing Satellite 's Along-Track Scanning Radiometer can measure infrared radiation emitted by fires, identifying hot spots greater than 39 °C (102 °F). The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 's Hazard Mapping System combines remote-sensing data from satellite sources such as Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES), Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), and Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) for detection of fire and smoke plume locations. However, satellite detection
8265-564: The week before it began; in the city of Chico itself the temperature surpassed 100 °F (38 °C) on the majority of days in July. Evaporative demand (a measure of the atmosphere's capability to draw water out of vegetation and other sources of moisture) increased across much of the state, and particularly so in the Central Valley. This led to a concurrent increase in fire danger. California had already endured an active fire season: by July 23,
8360-411: The wildfires. While direct emissions of harmful pollutants can affect first responders and residents, wildfire smoke can also be transported over long distances and impact air quality across local, regional, and global scales. The health effects of wildfire smoke, such as worsening cardiovascular and respiratory conditions, extend beyond immediate exposure, contributing to nearly 16,000 annual deaths,
8455-519: The world may employ techniques such as wildland fire use (WFU) and prescribed or controlled burns . Wildland fire use refers to any fire of natural causes that is monitored but allowed to burn. Controlled burns are fires ignited by government agencies under less dangerous weather conditions. Other objectives can include maintenance of healthy forests, rangelands, and wetlands, and support of ecosystem diversity. Strategies for wildfire prevention, detection, control and suppression have varied over
8550-466: The years. One common and inexpensive technique to reduce the risk of uncontrolled wildfires is controlled burning : intentionally igniting smaller less-intense fires to minimize the amount of flammable material available for a potential wildfire. Vegetation may be burned periodically to limit the accumulation of plants and other debris that may serve as fuel, while also maintaining high species diversity. While other people claim that controlled burns and
8645-418: Was 45.5 years. For every 100 females, there were 111.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 111.7 males. There were 408 housing units at an average density of 16.1 per square mile (6.2/km ), of which 355 were occupied, of which 292 (82.3%) were owner-occupied, and 63 (17.7%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.7%; the rental vacancy rate was 4.5%. 684 people (80.8% of
8740-406: Was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39. There were 235 families (66.2% of all households); the average family size was 2.86. The population was spread out, with 178 people (21.0%) under the age of 18, 42 people (5.0%) aged 18 to 24, 198 people (23.4%) aged 25 to 44, 321 people (37.9%) aged 45 to 64, and 108 people (12.8%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age
8835-566: Was arraigned on July 29 in Butte County Superior Court in Oroville , and charged with reckless arson with multiple enhancements. Stout did not enter a plea during that court appearance. The court ordered that he be held without bail, appointed a public defender and an additional arraignment was calendared for August 1, 2024. Stout appeared in court again on August 22 and pled not guilty. Wildfire A wildfire , forest fire , or
8930-410: Was four to five times as large as the area burned in the two counties in the previous decade. The Park Fire began near Upper Park Road in upper Bidwell Park, inside the city limits of Chico in Butte County. The location was approximately four miles (6.4 km) northeast of downtown Chico. Bidwell Park is a large municipal park and recreational area that stretches from Chico itself into the foothills of
9025-762: Was organized in South Africa's Kruger National Park to validate fire detection products including the new VIIRS active fire data. In advance of that campaign, the Meraka Institute of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research in Pretoria, South Africa, an early adopter of the VIIRS 375 m fire product, put it to use during several large wildfires in Kruger. Since 2021 NASA has provided active fire locations in near real-time via
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