The 2012 Reading Fire was a large wildfire in Lassen Volcanic National Park and the Lassen National Forest in Northern California. Ignited by a lightning strike on July 23, the fire was managed for ecological benefits by park officials until shifts in the weather caused the fire to jump its intended control lines. The Reading Fire ultimately burned 28,079 acres (11,363 hectares), partially outside the park, before it was fully contained on August 22, 2012. The fire destroyed no buildings and caused no fatalities or even serious injuries. The fire's unintended escape led members of the public and several California politicians to criticize park officials for allowing the fire to go unsuppressed after its discovery.
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