Park Fire grows by more than 12,000 acres; new evacuation orders in Tehama County

After little growth over the weekend, the Park Fire took off Monday afternoon in eastern Tehama County and grew by more than 12,000 acres, burning through the Mill Creek area, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said.

That growth prompted more evacuation orders in the county, Cal Fire said.

As of Tuesday morning, the fourth-largest wildfire in state history has burned 414,042 acres.

Containment on the blaze remains at 34%.

Cal Fire said, the fire “burned actively in heavy, receptive fuel beds, including abundant dead and down fuels in mature stands with more complete consumption in timber nursery stands, understory, and brush.”

“The fire crossed Tamarack Road into the South Fork Antelope Creek drainage. Crews and aircraft worked aggressively to slow and contain the increased fire activity,” Cal Fire said.

The fire was also fueled by low humidity and hotter temperatures.

More: Park Fire map: See how one of California’s largest fires compares with historic wildfires

“While there were evacuations lifted in both Tehama and Butte Counties, there was one zone that was upgraded to an Evacuation Order west of the intersection of Highways 32 and 36 in Tehama County,” Cal Fire said.

Officials said the hot weather will continue through the week before there is a chance for slight cooling and higher humidity levels through the weekend.

The Park Fire has destroyed 640 structures and damaged 52. Structures include homes, commercial and out-buildings.

Those numbers may not go up as Cal Fire said Monday that damage assessment teams have completed their work.

Meanwhile, Cal Fire has released a map that shows the structures that have been destroyed and damaged by the Park Fire.

Lassen Volcanic National Park remains closed. The road through the park Highway 89, also is only open as an evacuation route, park official said.

The Park Fire started July 24 in Upper Bidwell Park in Chico and rapidly spread north, racing through Tehama County, before it was stopped just shy of the Shasta County line.

David Benda covers business, development and anything else that comes up for the USA TODAY Network in Redding. He also writes the weekly “Buzz on the Street” column. He’s part of a team of dedicated reporters that investigate wrongdoing, cover breaking news and tell other stories about your community. Reach him on X, formerly Twitter @DavidBenda_RS or by phone at 530-338-8323. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Park Fire growth triggers new evacuation orders in eastern Tehama