Thompson Fire in Butte County forces evacuations near Oroville

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4 months ago

A wildfire continuing to burn in Butte County has led to thousands of evacuations, some firefighters injured and multiple structures destroyed, officials said Wednesday.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. City officials declared a local emergency Tuesday evening due to the fire. Read the official proclamation here. After the emergency was declared, Governor 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.”Thompson Fire acres burnt, containment, injuries and damagesAs of 7:37 a.m. Wednesday, Cal Fire said the fire has burned at least 3,002 acres, a jump from 2,136 acres reported on Tuesday at 5:20 p.m.Four firefighters suffered minor injuries while combating the fire, Cal Fire said. A total of 1,438 first responders are working on controlling the fire.The fire destroyed at least four structures, and 12,000 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.Firefighters have also not been able to establish any containment lines 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. KCRA 3 Meteorologist Heather Waldman said the north breeze is pushing the smoke south into the Valley. Thompson Fire evacuations, shelter information, road closures and mapAround 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.Find a map of evacuations below. App users, click here if you can’t see the map. The Oroville Church of the Nazarene on 2238 Monte Vista Ave. and the Gridley Fairgrounds at 199 E Hazel St. are available as shelters, according to Butte County.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.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. | MORE | A 2024 guide for how to prepare for wildfires in CaliforniaHere are key websites that are important for all Californians during wildfire season.Cal Fire wildfire incidents: Cal Fire tracks its wildfire incidents here. 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A wildfire continuing to burn in Butte County has led to thousands of evacuations, some firefighters injured and multiple structures destroyed, officials said Wednesday.

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.

City officials declared a local emergency Tuesday evening due to the fire. Read the official proclamation here. After the emergency was declared, Governor 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.”

Thompson Fire acres burnt, containment, injuries and damages

As of 7:37 a.m. Wednesday, Cal Fire said the fire has burned at least 3,002 acres, a jump from 2,136 acres reported on Tuesday at 5:20 p.m.

Four firefighters suffered minor injuries while combating the fire, Cal Fire said. A total of 1,438 first responders are working on controlling the fire.

The fire destroyed at least four structures, and 12,000 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.

Firefighters have also not been able to establish any containment lines 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. KCRA 3 Meteorologist Heather Waldman said the north breeze is pushing the smoke south into the Valley.

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Thompson Fire evacuations, shelter information, road closures and map

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.

Find a map of evacuations below. App users, click here if you can’t see the map.

The Oroville Church of the Nazarene on 2238 Monte Vista Ave. and the Gridley Fairgrounds at 199 E Hazel St. are available as shelters, according to Butte County.

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.

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.

| MORE | A 2024 guide for how to prepare for wildfires in California