Firefighters Battle Multiple Wildfires Amid Extreme Heat in Northern California
OROVILLE, Calif. — Firefighters are working tirelessly to protect homes and contain a rapidly growing wildfire in Northern California, which has forced at least 26,000 people to evacuate amid extreme heat. The Thompson Fire ignited around noon on Tuesday, about 70 miles north of Sacramento in Butte County, encompassing the city of Oroville.
By Wednesday, the fire had expanded to over 5.5 square miles, producing a massive smoke plume visible from space. Despite the challenging conditions, Oroville Mayor David Pittman reported a "significant drop in fire activity" by Wednesday afternoon, raising hopes that some residents might soon return home.
Efforts to contain the Thompson Fire are focused on the southern edge, with firefighters navigating steep terrain to build containment lines on the northern side, a particularly difficult area due to its topography. Adding to the crisis, a new fire, the Grubbs Fire, erupted five miles south of Oroville on Wednesday afternoon, triggering additional evacuations near Palermo.
Cal Fire reports that over a dozen other fires, most relatively small, are currently active across California. In Simi Valley, about 40 miles northwest of Los Angeles, a fire prompted temporary evacuations on Wednesday afternoon. The state's largest ongoing blaze, the Basin Fire, spans nearly 22 square miles of the Sierra National Forest in Fresno County and is 26% contained.
A state of emergency was declared in Oroville on Tuesday night, with evacuation centers established for those displaced. The evacuation zone was extended into the surrounding foothills and rural areas on Wednesday. Authorities have banned fireworks in most of Butte County to prevent additional fires during the upcoming Fourth of July celebrations.
Although there is no official report on property damage, an Associated Press photographer observed three suburban-style homes in Oroville succumbing to the flames. The fire's cause is under investigation, with red flag warnings in effect due to gusty northerly winds and low humidity levels.
These conditions prompted Pacific Gas & Electric to implement targeted public safety power shutoffs in some Northern California counties to mitigate the risk of fires ignited by downed or damaged wires.
With hot conditions, potentially reaching triple digits, expected to persist into next week, authorities are urging the public to refrain from using fireworks illegally. "Don't be an idiot, cause a fire and create more problems for us," said Butte County Sheriff Kory L. Honea. "No one in the community is going to want that. And we certainly don’t want this."
Governor Gavin Newsom's office announced that federal funding has been approved to assist with firefighting efforts. The governor activated the State Operations Center this week to coordinate the state's response, dispatch mutual aid, and support communities facing wildfire threats and extreme heat.
In Southern California, Joshua Tree National Park officials closed Covington Flats on Wednesday due to extreme fire risk. This decision follows a June 2023 fire that burned 1.6 square miles of Joshua trees and desert tortoise habitat, exacerbated by abundant dried grass from spring rains.
.webp)
.webp)
