Firefighters continue to battle massive California wildfire amid storms and lightning

CHICO, Calif. (AP) — Firefighters made progress Saturday in battling the largest wildfire of the year in California, ahead of expected thunderstorms that could spark fires, lightning and erratic winds and undo progress made over the past week. Dry, hot conditions posed similar threats across The West is hit by fire.

“We’re not completely out of the woods yet, but we’re looking very, very good,” CalFire official Mark Brunton said in a video update Saturday. “It’s progressing at a very rapid pace.”

Containment of the Park Fire, the fourth-largest blaze in California, was 27% as of Saturday afternoon. Brunton said relatively milder weather over the past few days allowed firefighters to build containment lines.

But warmer weather, fuel and terrain will continue to pose challenges for the estimated 6,500 firefighters battling the blaze, which has since spread across 626 square miles (1,621 square kilometers). allegedly started by arson in a park in the Sierra Nevada foothills east of the city of Chico in the Sacramento Valley. By comparison, the city of Los Angeles covers an area of ​​about 503 square miles (1,302 square kilometers).

Fire crews will also begin removing damaged infrastructure in some areas Saturday. People living in the rural communities of Cohasset and Forest Ranch were told they could return home Saturday afternoon.

The fire started at low elevations, where it quickly burned through thick grass and oak trees, destroying at least 567 structures and damaging 51. As the fire rose higher, the vegetation changed into a larger group of trees and shrubs, Cal Fire said.

The fire’s northward spread has pushed it toward the rugged lava rock landscape surrounding Lassen Volcanic National Park, which has been closed because of the hazard. That area remains one of the biggest challenges for firefighters, Cal Fire officials said Saturday afternoon. Smoke has also prevented firefighters from sending helicopters and other aircraft over the past few days.

“There are a lot of really steep drainages in that area,” said CalFire spokesman Devin Terrill. “It takes a lot longer to get to those areas.”

After a short break, firefighters are now preparing for challenging weather conditions, including hot and dry conditions, as well as expected thunderstorms and gusty winds.

The collapse of storm clouds can cause winds in any direction, said Jonathan Pangburn, a fire behavior analyst with Cal Fire. “Even if there’s no lightning per se, it’s an environment where firefighters have to be very vigilant,” Pangburn said.

The Park Fire is one of nearly 90 major blazes burning across the Western United States. Evacuation orders have been issued for 22 of the blazes, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.

Three forest fires burned in Colorado on Friday near densely populated areas north and south of Denver, where about 50 buildings were damaged or destroyed, thousands of people were ordered to evacuate and human remains were found in a destroyed home.

Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office Investigates Fire Threatens Hundreds of Homes Near Littleton, Colorado as arson.

Karlyn Tilley, a spokeswoman for the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, said the investigation is ongoing and investigators are using a specially trained dog to detect the source and cause of the fires. Tilley said that just because a fire is suspected to be human-caused does not mean it was intentional.

Firefighters are doing a good job of extinguishing the blaze, despite the steep, rocky terrain and scorching heat. Officials said no homes were burned down.

The cause and origin of the deadly fire west of Lyons is being investigated by the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and specially trained agency investigators are assisting local authorities, agency spokeswoman Crystal McCoy said. The area that was blackened by the blaze remained relatively unchanged after five homes burned.

The largest of the Colorado fires, west of Loveland, has grown to 14.9 square miles (38.5 square kilometers) after earlier burning 49 homes and other structures. Its cause is under investigation.

Scientists say extreme wildfires are becoming more frequent and destructive in the Western U.S. and other parts of the world as climate change is warming planet and droughts are becoming more and more severe.