Park Fire (2024)

Butte & Tehama Counties, California · Jul 24, 2024Oct 2024

Fourth-largest wildfire in California history

Acres burned

429,603

Lives lost

0

Structures destroyed

709

Year

2024

Duration

Over two months to full containment

What happened

The Park Fire became the fourth-largest wildfire in California history, burning more than 429,000 acres across Butte and Tehama counties in summer 2024 — in the same region devastated by the 2018 Camp Fire.

Cause

Arson (suspect arrested)

Location

Butte & Tehama Counties, California

Key facts

  • Fourth-largest wildfire in California history
  • Allegedly started by arson near Chico
  • Burned over 429,000 acres
  • Threatened communities still recovering from the Camp Fire

Replay the Park Fire in the spread simulator

This centers the wildfire-spread simulator on the Park Fire’s documented ignition point and replays its conditions on 2024-07-24 — the day’s strongest wind, temperature, and humidity from the open-meteo historical archive (which set the fire-day fuel moisture) — run through the same Rothermel surface-fire model used across FireRisk. Press ▶ Simulate to watch how fire tends to move under those conditions.

⚠️ Educational reconstruction — not the real fire perimeter

This is a simplified model of how fire spreads under the 2024 conditions, not the Park Fire’s actual burned area, official progression, or a prediction of any current fire. It cannot account for real fuels, suppression, spotting, or how conditions changed hour to hour. For real-time fire information always follow Watch Duty, official agencies, and local authorities — and call 911 in an emergency.

Loading the 2024 fire-day conditions…

Reminder: an educational reconstruction of fire spread under the 2024 conditions — not the Park Fire’s actual perimeter, an official record, or a forecast. Modeled spread, direction, and timing are illustrative only. Never rely on it for any safety decision.

Could your home survive a fire like the Park Fire?

Check your address for a 0–100 wildfire risk score, every fire recorded nearby, and the hardening steps that change the outcome.

Related major fires

Park Fire FAQ

When was the Park Fire and where did it burn?

The Park Fire started Jul 24, 2024 in Butte & Tehama Counties, California, and was contained Oct 2024.

How many acres did the Park Fire burn?

The Park Fire burned approximately 429,603 acres.

How many people died in the Park Fire?

Approximately 0 people died in the Park Fire.

What caused the Park Fire?

Arson (suspect arrested).

Figures are approximate and compiled from official agency reporting; totals for recent fires may still be revised. FireRisk.ai is an independent wildfire-risk service.