2024 wildfire in Northern California
The Thompson Fire was a fast-moving wildfire burning near the community of Oroville in Butte County, California , during the 2024 California wildfire season .[ 3]
The Thompson Fire sparked amidst a heat wave described as "exceptionally dangerous and lethal" by the National Weather Service .[ 4] The heat wave has caused vegetation to dry out, increasing wildfire risk in the area.[ 3]
The community of Oroville has been affected by several major wildfires, including the Camp Fire in 2018 and the Bear Fire in 2020.[ 5]
The fire sparked at 10:51 a.m. on Tuesday, July 2, 2024, near Cherokee Road and Thompson Flat Cemetery Road.[ 6] Within six hours, the fire grew from 15 acres (6.1 ha) to over 2,100 acres (850 ha), causing Gavin Newsom , the Governor of California , declared a state of emergency in Butte County .[ 7] [ 8] 13 thousand residents of Oroville were evacuated from the area.[ 8]
On Wednesday, the fire had scorched more than 3,000 acres (1,200 ha).[ 9] It was originally reported that eight firefighters were injured, three in a car crash and four were heat-related.[ 10] However, that number had dropped to four on Thursday.[ 2] Four structures were also destroyed.[ 11]
By Thursday, it was reported that growth of the fire had slowed, partly due to winds that were fueling the fire dying down.[ 2]
Growth and containment status [ edit ]
Fire containment status
Gray : contained; Red : active; %: percent contained
Date
Total area burned
Personnel
Containment
Jul 2[ 12]
2,135 acres (864 ha)
514 personnel
Jul 3[ 13]
3,002 acres (1,215 ha)
1,438 personnel
Jul 4[ 14]
3,789 acres (1,533 ha)
2,219 personnel
Jul 5[ 15]
3,789 acres (1,533 ha)
1,930 personnel
Jul 6[ 16]
3,789 acres (1,533 ha)
1,728 personnel
Jul 7[ 17]
3,789 acres (1,533 ha)
1,185 personnel
Jul 8[ 18]
3,789 acres (1,533 ha)
6 personnel
^ "Thompson Fire" . California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection . Retrieved July 3, 2024 .
^ a b c Wolfe, Jonathan (July 4, 2024). "Northern California Wildfire Slows, Allowing Some Residents to Return Home" . The New York Times . Archived from the original on July 4, 2024. Retrieved July 4, 2024 .
^ a b Alonso, Melissa; Shackelford, Robert (July 3, 2024). "Wildfire prompts evacuation order for thousands in Northern California as 'exceptionally dangerous' heat builds in the West" . CNN . Retrieved July 3, 2024 .
^ Castañeda, Carlos (July 3, 2024). " "Exceptionally dangerous" heat wave still in early stages; Bay Area may see record temps" . CBS News . Retrieved July 3, 2024 .
^ Baek, Susan (July 3, 2024). "Thompson Fire in Northern California forces evacuations as blaze rages" . NBC News . Retrieved July 4, 2024 .
^ Robinson, Adam; Harting, Ashley (July 2, 2024). "Emergency declared as 13K residents evacuated by Thompson Fire in Northern California" . KATV . Retrieved July 3, 2024 .
^ Ahumada, Rosalio (July 2, 2024). "Thompson Fire: 13,000 residents under evacuation orders as Northern California blaze grows" . The Sacramento Bee . Retrieved July 3, 2024 .
^ a b Nobert, Matthew (July 3, 2024). "Governor's Office declares state of emergency for Thompson Fire" . KSEE . Retrieved July 3, 2024 .
^ Holpuch, Amanda (July 3, 2024). "13,000 Are Ordered to Evacuate as Wildfire Spreads in Northern California" . The New York Times . Archived from the original on July 3, 2024. Retrieved July 3, 2024 .
^ Hernandez, Javier (July 3, 2024). "8 firefighters injured during the Thompson Fire" . Action News Now . Retrieved July 4, 2024 .
^ Ahumada, Rosalio; Hunt, Daniel; Pedrosa, Camila (July 4, 2024). "Four homes destroyed, 13k remain evacuated as Thompson Fire burns 3,000 acres in Butte County" . The Sacramento Bee . Archived from the original on July 4, 2024. Retrieved July 4, 2024 .
^ "Thompson Fire Incident Update for 07/02/2024 at 9:57 PM" . California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection . Retrieved July 6, 2024 .
^ "Thompson Fire Incident Update for 07/03/2024 at 3:33 PM" . California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection . Retrieved July 6, 2024 .
^ "Thompson Fire Incident Update for 07/04/2024 at 9:52 PM" . California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection . Retrieved July 6, 2024 .
^ "Thompson Fire Incident Update for 07/05/2024 at 7:12 PM" . California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection . Retrieved July 6, 2024 .
^ "Thompson Fire Incident Update for 07/06/2024 at 7:13 PM" . California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection . Retrieved 7 July 2024 .
^ "Thompson Fire Incident Update for 07/07/2024 at 6:17 PM" . California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection . Retrieved July 8, 2024 .
^ "Thompson Fire Incident Update for 07/08/2024 at 6:15 PM" . California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection . Retrieved July 23, 2024 .
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