More than 28,000 people have been ordered to evacuate their homes due to wildfires raging in Northern California, officials said Wednesday.
The Thompson Fire broke out Tuesday morning in Oroville, about 65 miles north of Sacramento. By Wednesday morning, the fire had grown to 3,002 acres with zero containment, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire. The cause is under investigation.
The flames have destroyed at least four structures and threatened 12,000 people, while downing numerous power lines, Butte County Fire Department spokesman Rick Carhart said. 1,438 personnel, including 18 firefighters, have been deployed to douse the fire. San Francisco Fire Department.
Video Posted on social media Large clouds of orange-gray smoke are shown rising from the fire above Oroville.
There were no reports of civilian injuries, Carhart said, but four firefighters suffered minor heat-related injuries.
“California is using all available tools to combat these fires and will continue to support affected communities,” said California Governor Gavin Newsom. declares State of emergency in Butte County.
A Report On Wednesday, the Federal Emergency Management Agency said it had approved federal funding Tuesday night to help California fight the wildfires.
Oroville residents were ordered to evacuate shortly after the fire started Tuesday. Butte County has set up two evacuation camps: one at the Oroville Church of the Nazarene and the other at the Gridley Fairgrounds.
The Thompson Fire is one of 17 burning in the state as a dangerous heat wave sweeps across the West ahead of the Fourth of July weekend. Extreme heat and the risk of wildfires have already affected vacation plans with the town of St. Helena. Postpone Its fireworks show and the city of Antioch cancels Its Independence Day Parade.
A total of 2,934 California wildfires have burned over 139,500 acres this year alone.
This is a growing story. Check back for updates.
