Fire crews battling California’s largest wildfire this year have corralled a third of the blaze aided in part by cooler weather, but a return of triple-digit temperatures could allow it to grow, fire officials said Sunday.
Cooler temperatures and increased humidity gave firefighters “a great opportunity to make some good advances” on the fire in the Sierra Nevada foothills, said Chris Vestal, a spokesperson for the California department of forestry and fire protection.
The Park fire has scorched 627 sq miles (1,623 sq km) since igniting 24 July when authorities said a man pushed a burning car into a gully in Chico and then fled. The blaze was 30% contained as of Sunday.
The huge fire has scorched an area bigger than the city of Los Angeles, which covers about 503 sq miles (1,302 sq km). It continues to burn through rugged, inaccessible and steep terrain with dense vegetation.