Northern California Fire Triples in Size to 280 Square Miles

A man was arrested July 25 after he was seen pushing a burning car into a gully the day before, which allegedly caused the massive fire.

Flames consume a building as the Park Fire tears through the Cohasset community in Butte County, Calif., July 25, 2024. Noah Berger/AP Photo

A massive fire in Northern California has exploded to nearly 280 square miles near the town of Chico, about 87 miles north of Sacramento.

State fire investigators say the destructive blaze, called the Park fire, started Wednesday afternoon after a man was seen pushing a burning car into a ravine inside a city park.

The man has since been arrested.

Since the fire began, 134 homes and other buildings have been destroyed, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). Another 4,200 homes and buildings were threatened Friday afternoon.

Photographer Ryan Warner, a local resident, said Thursday his house was destroyed.

“That’s a wrap, according to fire maps my house is gone,” Mr. Warner wrote on X. “I feel sick. This is the most surreal day of my life, and I mean that in the worst way possible. Everything I’ve ever worked for, gone.”

The fire is burning in Butte and Tehama counties and has forced about 4,000 residents from their homes, according to reports.

The Butte County Sheriff’s Office reduced the evacuation order to a warning for two zones in Chico Friday afternoon. Two other areas in the city’s northeast region remained under orders to leave. Police also closed several roads in the city.

Sheriff Kory Honea encouraged people to be ready to leave quickly.

“You have to be prepared to go. Last night … I ran across numerous people who were not prepared to go,” Mr. Honea said at a news conference Thursday. “We are under a very high threat of fire. You have to be ready to go.”

Horses evacuate as the Park Fire tears through the Cohasset community in Butte County, Calif., on July 25, 2024. Noah Berger/AP Photo

Firefighters spray water as the Park Fire tears through the Cohasset community in Butte County, Calif., on July 25, 2024. Noah Berger/AP Photo

Butte County is still recovering from the Thompson Fire, which started July 2 in Oroville, about 23 miles south of Chico, and destroyed 26 homes and eight buildings.

“It is maddening that we’re here again,” Mr. Honea said. “It’s particularly maddening that [the most recent] fire was caused by an individual.”

The area remained under a “red flag warning,” indicating fire danger remained high around the burn. Gusty winds and low humidity were also factors in the fire’s rapid growth through grass, brush, timber, and dead vegetation, according to fire officials.

“The Park Fire continues to burn very actively, especially when aligned with slope and winds, resulting in spotting and quick fire movement,” Cal Fire reported in a Friday update.

More than 1,600 fire personnel were fighting the fire Friday afternoon, helped by 142 fire engines, six helicopters, and 54 bulldozers.

A dog being safeguarded by fire support personnel sits beside Cohasset Rd. as the Park Fire burns in the Cohasset community in Butte County, Calif., on July 25, 2024. Noah Berger/AP Photo

Suspect Arrested

Ronnie Dean Stout II, 42, of Chico, was arrested July 25 by Cal Fire arson investigators on suspicion of starting the blaze.

Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey said Mr. Stout was arrested at 2 a.m. after a witness told police a man was seen pushing a burning car into a gully in upper Bidwell Park just before 3 p.m. Wednesday.

Law enforcement surrounded Mr. Stout’s mobile home in Chico and demanded he come out, Mr. Ramsey said.

Mr. Stout remains in county jail with no possibility of bail, according to the district attorney. He is scheduled to be arraigned Monday on a count of arson, though details of the charges were not yet finalized, Mr. Ramsey said at the news conference Thursday.

The suspect has been convicted twice before on felony charges and spent several years in state prison, officials said.

In 2001, he was found guilty of lewd acts with a child under 14, and in 2002, convicted of felony robbery with great bodily injury. After the 2002 conviction, Mr. Stout was sentenced to state prison for 20 years.

Mr. Ramsey said the suspect was also arrested for driving under the influence in 2020.