The massive Dixie Fire has burned through nearly half of Lassen Volcanic National Park.
In total, 47,945 acres of the park’s 106,452 acres have burned. While burning is often considered good for wildlands, by helping wipe out excess vegetation and rejuvenating plants and soils, preliminary surveys show that several spots in the park burned too hot to see any benefit. The fire had not burned the gateway town of Mineral, where the park keeps its headquarters, nor had it affected the mud pots, fumaroles and steam vents of the geothermal hotbed Bumpass Hell. The park’s visitor centers also were still standing, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
“A lot of people here are crossing their fingers,” said Ana Beatriz Cholo, a spokesperson for the National Park Service. “This is still a very active fire.” The Dixie Fire, which had charred 725,822 acres across five counties, is the second largest wildfire in California history. It was 40% contained as of Monday.