Park Fire 36% Containment Update

The Park fire has become the largest active fire burning in California and California’s fourth largest fire on record. The Park fire began July 24, 2024, near Alligator Hole in upper Bidwell Park near Chico, CA.

The Park fire has reached across four counties, Butte, Tehama, Shasta, and Plumas, and has burned over 429,135 acres, equivalent to 670.523 square miles,  which is twice the size of Los Angeles or Nashville.  According to the Cal-Fire website, the fire is at 36% containment.

Governor Gavin Newsom has toured the area and announced a state of emergency for the affected counties. FEMA has also been issued for assistance.

The evacuation orders for Butte, Plumas, and Shasta counties have been lifted.

Evacuation warnings for Butte also have been lifted.

Evacuation Orders for Tehama are:

TEH-448-A, TEH-694-A, TEH-694-B, TEH-696-B, TEH-498-E, TEH-698, TEH-720-A, TEH-720-B, TEH-720-C, TEH-726, TEH-728, TEH-716, TEH-718, TEH-720, TEH-722, TEH-724,  MLC-712, MLC-714, MIN-702, MIN-704, MIN-706, MIN-708, MIN-710, PCK-468, PCK-472, PCK-474, MIN-700

Tehama County evacuation warnings are:

• TEH-446-C, TEH-448-B, TEH-468, TEH-472, TEH-476, TEH-496-C, TEH-498-C, TEH-694-C, TEH-730, TEH-854-A, TEH-854-D, MAN-414, DLS-446-A, DLS-446-C, DLS-466-A, DLS-466-B, DLS-462-B, TEH-856, TEH-854-A, PSR-478, PSR-480, PSR-482, PCK-476, TEH-470, TEH-496-F, TEH-498-B, DLS-466-D, TEH-696-A, TEH-736, TEH-500, DLS-466-C, DLS-466-D, 448-C, 474-A, DLS-446-B, EH-496-B

Plumas County evacuation warnings are:

• PLU-001-A, PLU-001-B, PLU-002-A, PLU-040-A

Shasta County evacuation warnings are:

• OLD-5090, MAN-5040, MAN-5060, SHI-5070-A, SHI-5070-B, SHI-5120-A

Road closures for Butte County have been updated to:

• HWY 32 at Humbolt Rd.

Road closures in Tehama County are:

• Highway 36 at Little Giant Mill Road
• Plum Creek Road and Hogsback Road
• Highway 36 at St. Bernard Lodge
• County Road, Block E

Road closures in Shasta County:

• HWY 89 through Lassen National Park is closed

636 structures have been destroyed, 49 structures damaged, 0 confirmed fatalities, or injuries, over 6,040 firefighting personnel, 22 helicopters, 453 engines, 164 dozers, 194 water tenders,

The cause of the fire has been confirmed as arson, and a man identified as Ronnie Dean Stout II has been arrested and arraigned in Butte County Superior Court, entering a not-guilty plea. It has been reported that Ronnie Dean Stout II has two previous strikes for child molestation in the early 2000s along with a strike for robbery with great bodily injury. He can face 25 years to life depending on fatalities and injuries connected with the Park fire.

Ronnie Dean Stout II allegedly started the fire by pushing his mother’s flaming car into a 60-foot gully near Alligator Hole in upper Bidwell Park on July 24, 2024, and was seen calmly walking away from the scene while blending in with the crowd, according to witnesses and court documents. 

Stay tuned with the Roadrunner, local and national news for more updates on the Park fire.