BUTTE COUNTY – A flash flood warning is in effect for the Park Fire burn scar area this weekend as wet weather is expected in Northern California.
The National Weather Service (NWS) in Sacramento said the warning was in effect from 11 a.m. Friday to 11 a.m. Saturday where the fire was burning in Butte and Tehama counties.
The fire started last month in the Chico area and burned north through Tehama County near the Shasta County border. Nearly 430,000 acres of land have burned and as of Wednesday the fire was 57% contained.
All evacuations due to the fire were liftedHowever, officials in Butte County and the NWS said residents should be prepared to evacuate this weekend if approaching wet weather makes it necessary.
The NWS said the warning applies to the following locations: Big Chico Creek, Mud Creek, Rock Creek, Pine Creek, Deer Creek, Mills Creek, Antelope Creek and Paynes Creek.
Scattered rain showers and thunderstorms are expected, which could cause mudslides in the burn scar, officials said. On Wednesday evening, the CBS Sacramento weather team predicted that rain would begin in the burn scar Friday evening and continue through midday Saturday.
The Park Fire is the fourth largest wildfire in California history. Parts of Butte, Plumas, Shasta and Tehama counties are affected by the fire. One person was arrested for arson after allegedly setting the park fire in Upper Bidwell Park.
Triple-digit heat is expected again in the valley and Northern California by early next week.
