Man Under Arrest on Suspicion of Starting a California Wildfire, DA Says

July 25th, 4:31 PM EDT

By NEWSnet Digital Team

(NEWSnet) — A California man suspected of starting the state's largest wildfire of the year is under arrest, authorities announced Thursday.

The man allegedly started the fire by pushing a burning car into a gully as other fires scorched the region, a Butte County district attorney said.

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Flames from the fire the suspect is accused of starting exploded into what is now the Park Fire, which has burned more than 70 square miles near the city of Chico.

Evacuations were ordered in Butte and Tehama counties, with the blaze only 3% contained early Thursday.

California authorities did not immediately name the man they arrested.

No deaths or damage to structures had been reported, CAL FIRE/ Butte County Fire Department said in a late Wednesday update.

As evacuations continued in California, some Oregon residents were cleared to return home after a severe thunderstorm brought rain and cooler temperatures to the nearly 630 square miles burned by the Durkee Fire - the nation's biggest - and another nearby blaze.

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