Blazing Wildfires Prompt Mass Evacuations in Northern California

Thousands evacuated in Northern California as a rapidly growing wildfire joins numerous blazes in the Pacific Northwest and Canada. The Park Fire in Butte County, expanding from 1,400 to 45,500 acres overnight, led to over 4,000 evacuations. High winds and lightning threats continue to escalate dangers.

Thousands of people were evacuated in Northern California overnight as yet another rapidly growing wildfire raged, joining hundreds of blazes in the Pacific Northwest and Canada that are sending smoke across swaths of the region, fire officials and weather services said.

The Park Fire in Butte County, California, exploded from about 1,400 acres on Wednesday to around 45,500 acres by Thursday, according to Cal Fire. The wildfire, burning in California's Central Valley, was only 3 percent contained by Thursday morning, with no injuries reported. Thousands were ordered to leave their homes.

'We have 400 firefighters and personnel on the scene, but additional units are coming from across the state,' Collins said. 'The help is needed.' More than 4,000 people were evacuated in Butte County and Chico, according to Megan McMann of the Butte County Sheriff's Office.

High winds and lightning strikes continue to fan the flames. The largest fire in the United States, Oregon's Durkee Fire, has burned at least 240,000 acres. Smoke from fires in western Canada and the Pacific Northwest is causing hazy skies and poor air quality from the Rocky Mountains to Chicago.

(With inputs from agencies.)