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5 July 2024
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13 000 people under evacuation order in 3 000-acre Thompson Fire in Northern California, US
Firefighters batting the wildfire near Oroville are facing hot and dry conditions during the Fourth of July holiday week. Thousands of people were under evacuation orders in Northern California's Butte County Wednesday after a fast-moving wildfire grew to more than 3 000 acres. Firefighters are working to protect homes from the Thompson Fire, which started Tuesday, 2 July 2024, near Oroville, about 70 miles north of Sacramento, during a week of extreme heat throughout the state. Several residences have already been destroyed but there were no reports of injuries early Wednesday.
About 13 000 people were ordered to evacuate.
A state of emergency was declared in the community of about 20 000 people. The office of Gov. Gavin Newsom announced late Tuesday that federal funds were approved to help firefighters, who are facing hot and dry conditions.
Temperatures around 100 degrees are in the forecast. Similar weather conditions are in the holiday week forecast for Southern California, raising the wildfire threat.
CalFire stated, “Firefighters continue to strengthen containment and control lines. Firefighters on the line will continue to remain hydrated and ready in the event the fire activity increases. Weather Update: For today, dangerous heat will continue across the incident. Afternoon temperatures will climb into the 104-112 range. Therefore, an EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING remains in effect. Relative humidity will decrease in the lower to middle teens, with even some single-digit humidity possible. Typical diurnal winds will prevail with southwesterly winds, gusting 10 to 15 MPH, this afternoon and evening. The hot and dry conditions will continue through Sunday and early next week.”
So far this year in California, wildfires have burned nearly 134 000 acres, a staggering increase from this time last year when fires burned 7 600 acres, according to Cal Fire estimates.
Sources: NBC Los Angeles
About 13 000 people were ordered to evacuate.
A state of emergency was declared in the community of about 20 000 people. The office of Gov. Gavin Newsom announced late Tuesday that federal funds were approved to help firefighters, who are facing hot and dry conditions.
Temperatures around 100 degrees are in the forecast. Similar weather conditions are in the holiday week forecast for Southern California, raising the wildfire threat.
CalFire stated, “Firefighters continue to strengthen containment and control lines. Firefighters on the line will continue to remain hydrated and ready in the event the fire activity increases. Weather Update: For today, dangerous heat will continue across the incident. Afternoon temperatures will climb into the 104-112 range. Therefore, an EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING remains in effect. Relative humidity will decrease in the lower to middle teens, with even some single-digit humidity possible. Typical diurnal winds will prevail with southwesterly winds, gusting 10 to 15 MPH, this afternoon and evening. The hot and dry conditions will continue through Sunday and early next week.”
So far this year in California, wildfires have burned nearly 134 000 acres, a staggering increase from this time last year when fires burned 7 600 acres, according to Cal Fire estimates.
Sources: NBC Los Angeles
