Western Wildfires

The fire, which ignited Monday afternoon, has already burned over 4,500 acres and is 0% contained, according to Cal Fire.

The Park Fire alone had burned over 373,000 acres with only 12% containment as of Monday morning. It is now the sixth-largest fire in state history, according Cal Fire.

The NTSB said in a statement that someone reported an autopilot issue on the aircraft before it collided with the terrain below.

The fight on Saturday was bolstered by good news: Firefighters achieved 10% containment after zero containment for three days, and the weather was improving.

Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday night proclaimed emergency status for areas affected by the Park Fire and Gold Complex Fire — both in Northern California.

An animation from NASA shows the smoke blanketing many parts of Canada and at least a handful of U.S. states.

The Bureau of Land Management had contracted with the pilot flying the single-engine air tanker that was assisting with the Falls Fire, officials said.

Ronnie Dean Stout, II, was arrested on suspicion of arson and accused of starting the Park Fire, the Butte County district attorney said.

The fire prompted 25,000 people to flee as it roared into the near-deserted town overnight as a “wall of fire,” devastating up to half the structures in the picturesque resort.

The U.S. Forest Service is at “the highest level of wildfire response possible,” as western forests grapple with record-breaking dry timber conditions.

People were caught on camera fleeing the Hawarden Fire, which has destroyed and damaged homes and placed lives at risk, Riverside officials say.