Thousands of firefighters battle to control California wildfire

A fire raging out of control in northern California has rapidly become among the biggest ever in the western US state, authorities said on Saturday.

The Park Fire burned more than 350,000 acres (142,000 hectares) as of Saturday evening, making it the seventh-largest in the state’s history, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) said.

The fire, which prompted orders for more than 4,000 people to flee their homes, was burning through a largely rural, mountainous area near Chico city, about 90 miles (145km) north of the state capital, Sacramento.

The fire was just 10 percent controlled despite the efforts of more than 3,700 personnel with more than a dozen helicopters and several planes, according to an agency update.

Jeremy Pierce, a Cal Fire operations section chief, said on Saturday that firefighters were taking advantage of the cooler weather while it lasts: “We’re having great success today.”