California's Largest Wildfire: Devastation and Response
.jpeg)
California's largest active wildfire is growing rapidly due to dry conditions and intense heat. This fire near Chico was caused by a burning car being pushed into a ravine. The flames have since spread over 374 square miles, destroying more than 130 buildings and threatening thousands more. Firefighters are working tirelessly to contain the blaze, which has drawn unfavorable comparisons to the disastrous Camp Fire of 2018. The powerful flames forced the evacuation of residents of Lassen Volcanoes National Park and surrounding areas, including the community of Mineral. Efforts are being complicated by climate change, which has led to more frequent lightning strikes and longer periods of extreme heat and dryness. More than 110 active fires are burning in the western United States, affecting communities from Idaho to Oregon. In Eastern Oregon, a pilot tragically died while fighting a waterfall fire. In Washington, wildfires are threatening homes, infrastructure and forcing people to e