Firefighters in California continued their efforts to control a massive fire that broke out in the north of the state four days ago, fueled on Sunday by strong winds and persistently high temperatures, according to what the authorities announced.
The California State Fire Agency said the Park Fire, which has become one of the largest fires ever recorded in the western US state, had burned more than 144,500 hectares (300,000 acres) of green space by Sunday evening.
The Park Fire, which broke out near the town of Chico, is the seventh most destructive fire in state history.
Firefighters had some success on Saturday, taking advantage of weak winds and cooler temperatures, and were able to control the fire by 12 percent, according to the agency.
However, weather conditions were favorable for the fire on Sunday, as temperatures rose and winds intensified, according to the agency.
The fire has so far displaced 4,200 people in Butte County, according to Agence France-Presse.
Firefighters are battling the blaze in a mountainous area about 145 kilometers (90 miles) from Sacramento, the state capital.
The rugged terrain makes the firefighters' task even more difficult.
Authorities have mobilized 4,000 firefighters, helicopters, planes and bulldozers to battle the blaze, which has so far caused no fatalities but has damaged 67 structures.
The town of Chico is about 20 kilometers west of Paradise, which was devastated by wildfires in 2018 that killed 85 people, making it the deadliest blaze in California history.
Winds carried smoke from the Park Fire to neighboring states.
Police arrested a 42-year-old man on Thursday on suspicion of starting the blaze by throwing a burning car into a ravine.
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