Park Fire containment remains stable, cooler weather ahead may help, Cal Fire says

The Park Fire’s containment lines are holding stable aside from a handful of small spot fires, Cal Fire said in a Sunday morning status update.

As of 7 a.m. Sunday, firefighters have been able to contain 37% of the Park Fire, California’s largest wildfire in 2024 and the fourth largest wildfire in state history. Officials expect conditions to improve this week as humidity increases and a cooling trend moves in, which would put temperatures at or below seasonal norms.

Jeremy Pierce, a Cal Fire operations section chief, said at a Sunday morning operational briefing that yesterday was “a great day out on the fire,” with reduced smoke in some areas, fewer spot fires and progress with control lines.

In the 19 days since it sparked in Butte County, the Park Fire has burned 429,188 acres (670.6 square miles), of which about 113,700 acres belong to the Lassen National Forest. Since Saturday afternoon, the fire has spread an additional 70 acres in Tehama County, with a total of 376,00 acres in the county now burned.

The fire’s size did not change in Butte County, where it has scorched nearly 53,000 acres. Some parts of Shasta and Plumas counties have additionally been affected. A total of 641 structures have been destroyed during the fire, an increase of five since Saturday afternoon.

Humidity recovery improved overnight in the Mill Creek community near Lassen Peak, where flames burned actively yesterday.

Fire officials said Sunday that fire behavior is ultimately expected to calm in the evening after a “transition day” with dissipating temperature inversions and afternoon wind gusts of about 20 to 25 mph. Air over the fire will remain clear throughout the day, Cal Fire said.

Pockets of unburned fuel remain, and actively burning dead and down fuels may threaten control lines. Air tanks and helicopters continue to assist crews on the ground.

Evacuation orders and warnings were lifted for a few zones in Tehama County, but most have stayed in place. Some areas of Shasta and Plumas counties are also under evacuation warnings. No evacuation orders and warnings remain in Butte County.

Cal Fire has reported no civilians or firefighters injured or killed since the start of the Park Fire.