Firefighters in Northern California worked to protect homes from a rapidly expanding wildfire on Wednesday, while helicopters conducted water drops. The blaze, which has forced the evacuation of at least 13,000 people, continues to grow amid extreme heat.
Known as the Thompson Fire, it began before noon on Tuesday approximately 70 miles (110 kilometers) north of Sacramento, near Oroville in Butte County.By Wednesday , the fire had spread to almost 4.7 square miles (12.1 square kilometers) and was not contained, according to several media reports.
Oroville, a city of about 20,000 people, declared a state of emergency on Tuesday night and set up evacuation centers. Authorities reminded residents that fireworks are banned in much of Butte County ahead of the Fourth of July holiday.
Though there were no official reports on property damage, the blaze ignited patches of grass around Lake Oroville, with gusty winds fanning American flags near the state’s second-largest reservoir and the country’s tallest dam.
The cause of the fire is under investigation. Critical fire weather conditions, including strong northerly winds and low humidity, were present when the fire started. These conditions, which are expected to persist until 8 pm. Wednesday, have led Pacific Gas & Electric to implement selective power shutoffs in Northern California to prevent fires from power line issues.
Temperatures above 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.8 degrees Celsius) were forecast for Wednesday, with hot weather expected to continue into the following week. Authorities cautioned against the use of illegal fireworks during the holiday, stressing the potential for additional fires.
Governor Gavin Newsom’s office announced that federal funding had been secured for firefighting efforts. The governor activated the State Operations Center to coordinate the response, providing mutual aid and supporting communities affected by the wildfire and heatwave.
( with input from agencies)
Known as the Thompson Fire, it began before noon on Tuesday approximately 70 miles (110 kilometers) north of Sacramento, near Oroville in Butte County.By Wednesday , the fire had spread to almost 4.7 square miles (12.1 square kilometers) and was not contained, according to several media reports.
Oroville, a city of about 20,000 people, declared a state of emergency on Tuesday night and set up evacuation centers. Authorities reminded residents that fireworks are banned in much of Butte County ahead of the Fourth of July holiday.
Though there were no official reports on property damage, the blaze ignited patches of grass around Lake Oroville, with gusty winds fanning American flags near the state’s second-largest reservoir and the country’s tallest dam.
The cause of the fire is under investigation. Critical fire weather conditions, including strong northerly winds and low humidity, were present when the fire started. These conditions, which are expected to persist until 8 pm. Wednesday, have led Pacific Gas & Electric to implement selective power shutoffs in Northern California to prevent fires from power line issues.
Temperatures above 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.8 degrees Celsius) were forecast for Wednesday, with hot weather expected to continue into the following week. Authorities cautioned against the use of illegal fireworks during the holiday, stressing the potential for additional fires.
Governor Gavin Newsom’s office announced that federal funding had been secured for firefighting efforts. The governor activated the State Operations Center to coordinate the response, providing mutual aid and supporting communities affected by the wildfire and heatwave.
( with input from agencies)