California's 'Monster' Park Fire Is Now One Of The State's Largest On Record

The wildfire has been rapidly spreading north of Sacramento after a man pushed a burning car off a road and into a gully last week, igniting the blaze, authorities said.

California’s fast-growing Park Fire is now the fifth largest wildfire in the state’s history, having burned more than 598 square miles — a little more than the size of Los Angeles — in less than a week.

The rapidly intensifying blaze, located approximately 90 miles north of Sacramento, had a perimeter of 260 miles and was just 14% contained as of Tuesday morning, according to an online update by CalFire.

Strong winds and dry vegetation following several weeks of extreme, record-breaking heat in the region have contributed to the fire’s rapid spread in areas that haven’t experienced fire in decades. Abnormally long-lasting and intense fires are expected across the state throughout the remainder of the year due to these above-normal temperatures, fire officials said.

A local man accused of setting the Park Fire last Wednesday by pushing a burning car into a gully made his first court appearance on Monday and was charged with felony arson of an inhabited structure or property.

Ronnie Dean Stout II, 42, of Chico, did not enter a plea while in court. He has denied intentionally setting the fire, saying he pulled his car over into some heavy grass while it was experiencing mechanical issues. The vehicle then caught fire on its own, prompting him to flee the scene out of fear, Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey said at a press conference Monday.