A swiftly growing wildfire in Northern California is forcing thousands of residents of Butte County to evacuate as the mercury reaches near record levels throughout much of the Golden State. Here is the latest on the most recent wildfire in California as well as the ongoing heat wave.
Thousands Evacuated in Northern California Due to Thompson Fire
The Thompson Fire has forced the evacuation of thousands of people in and around the city of Oroville, located about 65 miles to the north of Sacramento. As of Wednesday's update from Cal Fire, the blaze had scorched over 3,500 acres and was 0% contained.
According to the Butte County Sheriff's Office, approximately 13,000 residents east of Lake Oroville were told to evacuate late Tuesday. The blaze jumped over the diversion pool on Feather River and continued to make a push toward populated areas. Cal Fire confirmed that they have deployed about 400 fire personnel to fight the fire.
The rapid upward trajectory of the mercury in recent days has paired with dried out vegetation to raise the risk of wildfires over the long holiday weekend when many Americans are spending more time outdoors. Many communities in the western U.S. are under red flag warnings due to the extreme heat combining with the low humidity levels and strong winds.
Elsewhere in the state, the Basin Fire in Fresno County is only 26% contained after burning over 13,000 acres in recent days. The proliferation of fires has prompted local officials in many parts of the Golden State to ask residents to refrain from using fireworks or campfires in the coming days.