VIDEO: More than 1,500 cars burn in massive junkyard fire in Antelope Valley

PHOTOS: At least 1,500 vehicles, if not more, inside of an estimated 20-acre junkyard burned in a three-alarm blaze in the Antelope Valley Thursday. Firefighters responded to reports of a “yard fire” at 421 W Ave I off of Sierra Highway in Lancaster just after 3 p.m., L.A. County Fire confirmed to KTLA. In video of the blaze posted to social media, thick plumes of black smoke were seen coming from the location and drifting over the nearby Sierra Highway. Initially, fire officials reported that an estimated 300 crushed vehicles were on fire, though that number continued to rise as the flames spread. Aerial footage from Sky5 showed several explosions, as well as flames jumping the fence causing firefighters to quickly extinguish small vegetation fires.
KTLA-TV CW 5 Los Angeles

Park Fire near Chico explodes in size to more than 164,000 acres, forces evacuations

VIDEO: Butte County has declared an emergency in response to the raging Park Fire near Chico. It's prompted a slew of evacuations that have extended into Tehama County. The emergency declaration will allow the county to request more resources from the state. As of early Friday morning, Cal Fire reported that the fire had burned more than 164,000 acres — some 256 square miles. Containment was at first reported to be 3%, but Cal Fire reduced it to 0% on Friday. Cal Fire said the Park Fire was the result of suspected arson and ignited around 3 p.m. Wednesday in the Upper Bidwell Park area, about four miles northeast of Chico's city center. Cal Fire noted on Friday that 134 structures have been destroyed, while 4,200 remain threatened. No specifics have been released on the kinds of structures destroyed, but it's clear that several homes have been burned.
KOVR-TV CBS 13 Sacramento

Night vision, new helicopters are pushing the frontiers of fighting wildfires in California

VIDEO: The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection boasts the largest civil firefighting aviation unit in the world and, as fires become more destructive and frequent, it’s only getting bigger. With more than 60 helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft used in tandem to monitor and attack fires, Cal Fire has been able to extinguish thousands of wildfires every year. But recent fire seasons have shattered records for the largest, deadliest and most destructive fires in California, and 2024’s fire season is already more active than the year-to-date average of the last five years. To meet the state’s need for firefighting operations, the agency has been bringing in new members to its aviation units who are keeping Cal Fire on the edge of faster responses.
The Sacramento Bee - Metered Site

Park Fire in Northern California expands to 45,550 acres in less than 24 hours

VIDEO: A rapidly growing wildfire in Northern California forced evacuations after spreading overnight at an alarming rate. Evacuations were ordered in California’s Butte and Tehama counties as crews battled a fire reported near Chico just before 3 p.m. Wednesday. The Park Fire quickly spread to more than 45,000 acres is just hours and was only 3% contained early Thursday, according to CAL FIRE. The cause was under investigation. The fire east of Chico started just before 3 p.m. Wednesday. It is one of more than two dozen wildfires burning in California. Fire personnel were focusing on evacuations and defending structures while using bulldozers to build containment lines ahead of the Park Fire. No deaths or damage to structures had been reported, CAL FIRE/ Butte County Fire Department said in a late Wednesday update.
KNBC-TV NBC 4 Los Angeles

Man dies after crash sparks fire on Hwy 178 in Kern County

VIDEO: Firefighters are working to contain a fire burning along Highway 178 that has forced a closure of the canyon Wednesday afternoon. According to the California Highway Patrol, a Lake Isabella man behind the wheel of a Chevrolet was traveling eastbound on Highway 178 when, for reasons still under investigation, lost control of the vehicle. The Chevrolet went off the north side of the road and down an embankment, overturned and caught fire just before 1 p.m. The 46-year-old man was ejected during the crash and was pronounced dead at the scene. He was not wearing a seatbelt during the crash. Kern County coroner’s office will release the man’s identity at a later date. Flames sparked by the crash spread to the hillside and moving in a westerly direction, according to reports on CHP’s page.
KGET-TV NBC 17 Bakersfield

VIDEO: Rosemead pallet yard fire sending up thick plumes of black smoke

A large commercial fire in Rosemead sent up thick plumes of black smoke visible from throughout the San Gabriel Valley and Los Angeles. The three-alarm fire was burning on River Avenue just south of the 10 Freeway at a pallet yard where 55-gallon drums were also being consumed by flames. The exact nature of the materials on fire was not immediately known, but a hazardous materials team was responding to the scene. By around 3:30 p.m. firefighters had extinguished most of the visible flames but smoldering materials continued to emit thick clouds of smoke. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. No major injuries were reported but one firefighter was treated for heat-related illness. Local residents and people who worked in the area were astonished at the sight.
KABC-TV ABC 7 Los Angeles

Flora Fire burning north of Santa Rosa in Sonoma County

VIDEO/PHOTOS: Cal Fire firefighters have gotten the upper hand on a 50-acre vegetation fire in Sonoma County on Wednesday evening. Forward progress has been stopped and the fire is 35% contained. The agency's Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit is calling this the Flora Fire, located on both sides of the 12000 block of Chalk Hill Road, east of Healdsburg. The road is closed between Spurgeon Road and Flora Ranch Road. The public is asked to avoid the area. Officials first posted about the fire on social media at 6:22 p.m. They said the fire initially had a moderate rate of spread. Fire on the west side of the road was the first to be contained. Crews will remain in the area throughout the night to work on containment and to extinguish hot spots, officials said.
KTVU-TV FOX 2 Oakland