By Zehra Nur Duz
ANKARA (AA) — Wildfires in the US state of California have burned more than 370,000 acres, leading to the evacuation of thousands of residents, local media reported on Tuesday.
The fires, which began on July 24 near the city of Chico in northern California, are still ongoing, according to CNN.
"The Park Fire," which is effective east of Chico, has become "the sixth-largest wildfire in California history, torching more than 370,000 acres, or 578 square miles," CNN quoted the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) as saying.
“That occurred in only six days. This region, both Butte and Tehama, over the course of time in California, has had four of the largest 10 fires known in history,” Cal Fire Incident Commander Billy See said at a news conference on Monday.
As of Monday evening, the fire was 12% contained and had destroyed 111 structures and damaged six others across the two affected counties, See added.