A devastating fire that allegedly began when a man pushed a flaming car into a gully at a park in Northern California has rapidly grown into the largest fire currently burning in the western region and one of the largest in the state's history. The Park Fire, located approximately 90 miles north of Sacramento, has now scorched nearly 350,000 acres as of Saturday afternoon, as reported by Cal Fire.

The fire, which is producing its own clouds, has doubled in size since Friday morning, engulfing an area equivalent to the size of Chicago. It has become the seventh-largest fire in California's history and is yet to be contained.

Prosecutors claim the fire originated when Ronnie Stout intentionally set his mother's car ablaze and sent it 60 feet down an embankment near Alligator Hole in Chico's Upper Bidwell Park. The blaze rapidly spread northward across the Sierra Nevada foothills, fueled by triple-digit temperatures, low humidity, and gusty winds.

The Park Fire, surpassing the size of Los Angeles, has already caused significant damage, with 134 structures reported as being affected, according to Cal Fire's latest incident report. The terrain in the area is challenging for firefighters, characterized by steep and rocky terrain with limited access roads.

Authorities have expressed some optimism as cooler temperatures, reaching the upper 80s, and slightly higher humidity are expected on Saturday, offering some relief to the firefighting efforts. The National Weather Service's Sacramento office anticipates that these conditions could slow down the fire's spread from Butte County into Tehama County, where the primary area of activity is now concentrated. The fire is consuming grass, brush, timber, and dead vegetation in its path.

However, the duration of the mild weather conditions remains uncertain, and efforts to combat the fire are ongoing. Evacuation orders have been issued across eastern Tehama County, extending up to the Shasta County line, affecting communities close to Lassen Volcanic National Park.

In Butte County, evacuation orders and warnings remain in effect, including warnings for Magalia, a town in the foothills east of Chico, which neighbors Paradise. This town was devastated by the 2018 Camp Fire, which claimed 85 lives and destroyed 14,000 homes. The Park Fire has already surpassed the size of the Camp Fire, which was caused by faulty power lines.

As a result of the Park Fire, nearly 8,700 individuals have been instructed to evacuate their homes. Evacuation centers and animal shelters have been set up at the Butte County Fairgrounds, local churches, and a local rodeo facility to assist those affected.

The Park Fire is one of over 100 large wildfires currently burning across 10 western states and Alaska, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. Climate change, characterized by warmer temperatures and dry conditions, is exacerbating the intensity and scale of these massive wildfires.