About 13,000 people remain under evacuation orders near Oroville, California. Three firefighters sustained heat-related injuries while battling the Thompson Fire in Butte County, California, as red flag conditions persist in the area, according to Cal Fire. The state on Tuesday secured federal assistance to support the response to the fire, Gov. Gavin Newsom said.
“We’re working proactively to bring in additional funding to help ensure the availability of vital resources to suppress the fire burning in Butte County,” he said in a statement.
A property is engulfed in flames as the Thompson Fire burns, Tuesday, July 2, 2024, in Oroville, Calif. Ethan Swope/AP. About 13,000 people remain under evacuation order near Oroville, California, the Butte County Sheriff said. The blaze has burned about 3,002 acres since it was ignited on Tuesday morning, fire officials said. It was zero percent contained, Cal Fire said.
A firefighter runs while battling the Thompson Fire burning in Oroville, Calif., Tuesday, July 2, 2024. Noah Berger/AP. Newsom said California had been approved for a Fire Management Assistance Grant, a federal program that can reimburse up to 75% of eligible firefighting costs. Law enforcement members watch as the Thompson fire burns over Lake Oroville in Oroville, California on July 2, 2024. Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Images.
About 510 fire personnel were battling the “well established” blaze on Tuesday night, Cal Fire said in a fact sheet. “The fire has jumped the diversion pool of the Feather River and is making runs toward Olive Highway in the Kelly Ridge area,” the agency said.
Firefighters are preparing for another hot day on Thursday as they hope to halt the spread of a Butte County wildfire that led to thousands of evacuations, injured several firefighters, and destroyed multiple structures. The Thompson Fire started around 11 a.m. on July 2 near Cherokee and Thompson Flat Cemetery roads. Spreading flames have led to evacuation orders expanding, including parts of the city of Oroville.
Cal Fire in its 6:37 a.m. Thursday report said the number of acres burnt has not changed over the past 12 hours, a sign that they may soon gain control over the fire. However, it warns another day of triple-digit temperatures could increase the risk of more flames spreading. “Firefighters on the line will continue to remain hydrated and ready in the event the fire activity increases,” Cal Fire said. Meanwhile, some mandatory evacuations were reduced to evacuation warnings, which allows for residents to return home if not under an order.
City officials declared a local emergency Tuesday evening due to the fire. After the emergency was declared, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that California had secured a Fire Management Assistance Grant to help Butte County suppress the Thompson Fire. On Wednesday morning, Newsom also declared a state of emergency for the Thompson Fire.
“We are using every available tool to tackle this fire and will continue to work closely with our local and federal partners to support impacted communities,” a statement from Newsom’s office read. “As we head into some of the most challenging months of wildfire season, the state is better prepared than ever to protect at-risk communities with new tools, technology, and resources.”
The California Attorney General’s Office is also reminding people that price gouging is illegal during states of emergency, meaning prices cannot exceed 10% of what it originally cost before the emergency declaration was made. That includes gas, food, and lodging. Anyone who thinks they may be experiencing price gouging is encouraged to call law enforcement.
Oroville’s Fourth of July fireworks event has been canceled and the Lake Oroville Recreation Area will remain closed until at least Friday. The city issued a temporary ban on the use of Safe-and-Sane fireworks.
As of 6:37 a.m. Thursday, Cal Fire said the number of acres burned remains at 3,568, the same reported acreage from Wednesday. This is a notable drop in wildfire activity when the fire first burned thousands of acres when it started. NBC News reported that eight firefighters have been injured so far. A total of 1,962 first responders are working on controlling the fire, according to Cal Fire. The fire destroyed at least four structures, and 12,180 structures remain threatened.
KCRA 3 reporter Carolina Estrada was near Oroville around 9:30 p.m. Tuesday when she saw multiple homes destroyed by fire on Bessie Lane. Cal Fire’s Thursday report says there is a 7% containment line around the burn area. Containment isn’t used to measure how much of a wildfire is extinguished. It instead measures how much of a perimeter around the fire is established to prevent flames from spreading.
AlertCalifornia cameras show a large plume of smoke has been visible for hours since it first sparked around 11 a.m. on July 2. While a large plume is no longer visible, the skies around the burn area are hazy.
Around 28,000 residents are under an evacuation order as of 7:37 a.m. Wednesday. The orders are in effect for portions of the communities of Oroville, Cherokee, Oroville Northeast, Kelly Ridge, and Hurleton. You are lawfully required to leave immediately under evacuation orders because of the threat to safety.
The California Department of Water Resources said several State Water Project facilities are included under the evacuation orders, including the Hyatt Powerplant facility, the Oroville Field Division office on Glen Drive, and the Lake Oroville Visitor Center. Staff at those facilities have been evacuated to the Thermalito Pumping-Generating Plant. DWR added that Oroville Dam is not at risk.
There are also evacuation warnings in place. You are not required to leave when warnings are issued but are recommended to do so in case conditions become dangerous. On Wednesday, several evacuation orders were reduced to warnings.
The Oroville Church of the Nazarene on 2238 Monte Vista Ave. is available as a shelter, according to Butte County. It closed the Gridley Fairgrounds on Thursday. State Route 162 in Oroville is closed at Kelly Ridge Road due to the fire, according to Caltrans. As of 4 p.m., there is no estimated time of reopening.
The Salvation Army said it will serve meals and offer spiritual services to first responders and those impacted by the Thompson Fire. This fire burns amid triple-digit heat and north winds that increase the risk of wildfires rapidly spreading. KCRA 3 issued an Alert Day for Tuesday because of those dangerous conditions. The National Weather Service also had a red flag warning, which is issued when conditions are favorable for a wildfire to spread, in effect at the time when the fire started.
The small animal shelter along Del Oro Avenue is at capacity as of 10:30 a.m. The county is working on an additional facility. Thousands are under evacuation warnings and orders Wednesday as the Thompson Fire burns in Butte County near Oroville. Cal Fire said the blaze is at 3,568 acres and 7% containment Wednesday evening. The fire sparked in the area of Cherokee and Thompson Flat Cemetery roads near Oroville Tuesday morning. Fire officials said there’s a threat to multiple infrastructures, including power and water supply to the Oroville area.
“The conditions out there that are in our county this summer are much different than we’ve experienced the last two summers. The fuels are very dense, the brushes dry and as you can see any wind will move a fire out very quickly,” Butte Unit Chief Garret Sjolound said Tuesday. Sjolound said Tuesday fire crews are holding the fire north of the Long Bar Road area and also contained a spot fire on Rusty Dusty Road. He said crews have prioritized holding the fire at the Oroville Dam and keeping it out of Kelly Ridge.
About 28,000 residents of Butte County are under an evacuation order. Four firefighters sustained injuries while battling the wildfire, according to Cal Fire. Butte County Fire Department said the firefighters had minor heat-related injuries. Another firefighter had injuries from the fire line. Three other firefighters were injured en route to the fire due to a crash in Oroville.
Oroville declared a local emergency Tuesday due to the wildfire. Gov. Gavin Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency in response to the fire and federal funding was approved to help with firefighting efforts.
Source: Ethan Swope/AP, Noah Berger/AP, Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Images, NBC News, KCRA 3
