Catastrophic Wildfire in California Poses Major Threat to the US Tourism Industry

On July 27, thousands of firefighters were engaged in a fierce battle against a rapidly expanding wildfire in Northern California. The fire, which doubled in size within 24 hours, threatened to impact the state's thriving travel and tourism industry.

The wildfire, known as the Park Fire, ignited at 2:52 PM on July 24 near Upper Bidwell Park, east of Chico. By the evening of July 27, it had burned over 350,012 acres (141,640 hectares), located about 90 miles north of Sacramento, and was only 10% contained.

The region anticipated cooler temperatures and higher humidity, which could help slow the wildfire's spread. By the evening of July 27, the fire had destroyed 134 structures.

Authorities issued evacuation orders and alerts for several communities across multiple counties, including a warning for the city of Paradise, which was previously devastated by the deadly Camp Fire in 2018. This growing situation has raised concerns about the potential repercussions for California's booming travel sector, especially in and around the affected areas.

The White House confirmed that President Joe Biden received updates on the situation and instructed his team to maximize support for firefighting efforts. Authorities arrested a man on July 25, suspecting he had started the Park Fire by sending a burning car down a ravine on the afternoon of July 24.

According to the National Interagency Fire Center, this fire is the largest among numerous active wildfires across the country, which together have consumed more than two million acres.

In Oregon, the Durkee Fire and other fires continued to burn, with the Durkee Fire alone scorching over 288,000 acres in the state's eastern region.

The US Forest Service announced the tragic death of a firefighter on July 26, following the crash of a single-engine tanker truck near the Falls Fire in southeastern Oregon.