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Man started California wildfire by pushing burning vehicle into gully, district attorney states

A man was apprehended on Thursday on suspicion of starting a wildfire that forced thousands to get away their homes in a fastmoving blaze that is the largest in California so far this year.

Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey said in a. declaration that the male, Ronnie Dean Stout II, was jailed without. bond on a Butte County judge's warrant after he was identified. as the person seen pressing a flaming automobile into a gully on. Wednesday afternoon.

The automobile spread flames that triggered what is being. called the Park Fire, which blew up overnight from about 1,400. acres (567 hectares) on Wednesday near Chico, California, to. about 125,000 acres on Thursday afternoon in northern California. about 80 miles (130 km) north of the state capital Sacramento.

The 42-year-old suspect was detained by arson. detectives with the state California Department of Forestry. and Fire Defense, or Cal Fire, along with authorities.

His arraignment is set for Monday, according to Ramsey, who. did not define what kind of arson charge the man may face. A. representative for the Butte County District Lawyer's Workplace did. not immediately react to a ask for more information.

The Park Fire was only 3 percent contained on Thursday. afternoon and the largest in the state up until now this year, Cal. Fire stated. No injuries were reported.

More than 4,000 individuals were evacuated in Butte County and. the city of Chico, stated Megan McMann, a representative for the. Butte County Sheriff's Office.

The biggest fire now burning in the United States, Oregon's. Durkee Fire, has burned at least 268,000 acres, threatened. numerous small towns, scorched cattle ranch land and eliminated cattle by. the hundreds, local media reported.

High winds, with gusts of 60 miles mph (97 kph) along with. lightning strikes on Wednesday and overnight could fan the. flames, stated Marc Chenard, a forecaster with the National. Weather Condition Service in College Park, Maryland.

The fire, about 100 miles northwest of Boise, Idaho, was 20%. percent contained on Thursday afternoon. More wind was anticipated. and lightning possible.

There is no percent opportunity of rain in the projection for. the area, Chenard stated.

Smoke from fires in western Canada and the Pacific Northwest. is blamed for hazy skies and unhealthy air from the Rocky. Mountains to Chicago, weather reports said. Denver had the worst. air quality in the U.S. and ranked the 22nd worst on the planet,. according to IQAir, a group that tracks air pollution throughout the. globe.

The air could be clearing in the future Thursday as a high. pressure ridge rolls in bringing clearer skies, according to. weather reports.

Scientists and ecological advocates have long required. global leaders to phase out and end the dependence on fossil fuels. to avoid catastrophic results of environment modification, consisting of. worsening wildfires.

(source: Reuters)