Firefighters are preparing for another hot day on Thursday as they hope to halt the spread of a Butte County wildfire that led to thousands of evacuations, injured several firefighters and destroyed multiple structures. 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. Cal Fire in its 6:37 a.m. Thursday report said the number of acres burnt has not changed over the past 12 hours, a sign that they may soon gain control over the fire. However, it warns another day of triple-digit temperatures could increase the risk of more flames spreading.”Firefighters on the line will continue to remain hydrated and ready in the event the fire activity increases,” Cal Fire said.Meanwhile, some mandatory evacuations were reduced to evacuation warnings, which allows for residents to return home if not under an order.City officials declared a local emergency Tuesday evening due to the fire. Read the official proclamation here. After the emergency was declared, Gov. 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.”The California Attorney General’s Office is also reminding people that price gouging is illegal during states of emergency, meaning prices cannot exceed 10% of what it originally cost before the emergency declaration was made. That includes gas, food and lodging.Anyone who thinks they may be experiencing price gouging is encouraged to call law enforcement.Oroville’s Fourth of July fireworks event has been canceled and the Lake Oroville Recreation Area will remain closed until at least Friday. The city issued a temporary ban on the use of Safe-and-Sane fireworks. Thompson Fire acres burned, containment, injuries and damagesAs of 6:37 a.m. Thursday, Cal Fire said the number of acres burned remains at 3,568, the same reported acreage from Wednesday. This is a notable drop in wildfire activity when the fire first burned thousands of acres when it started. NBC News reported that eight firefighters have been injured so far. A total of 1,962 first responders are working on controlling the fire, according to Cal Fire.The fire destroyed at least four structures, and 12,180 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.Cal Fire’s Thursday report says there is a 7% containment line 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. While a large plume is no longer visible, the skies around the burn area are hazy.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.On Wednesday, several evacuation orders were reduced to warnings. 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.The Salvation Army said it will serve meals and offer spiritual services to first responders and those impacted by the Thompson Fire. Find a list of locations here.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. You can sign up to receive text messages for Cal Fire updates on wildfires happening near your ZIP code here.Wildfires on federal land: Federal wildfire incidents are tracked here.Preparing for power outages: Ready.gov explains how to prepare for a power outage and what to do when returning from one here. Here is how to track and report PG&E power outages.Keeping informed when you’ve lost power and cellphone service: How to find a National Weather Service radio station near you.Be prepared for road closures: Download Caltrans’ QuickMap app or check the latest QuickMap road conditions here.REAL-TIME TRAFFIC MAPClick here to see our interactive traffic map.TRACK INTERACTIVE, DOPPLER RADARClick here to see our interactive radar.DOWNLOAD OUR APP FOR THE LATESTHere is where you can download our app.Follow our KCRA weather team on social mediaMeteorologist Tamara Berg on Facebook and X.Meteorologist Dirk Verdoorn on FacebookMeteorologist/Climate Reporter Heather Waldman on Facebook and X.Meteorologist Kelly Curran on X.Watch our forecasts on TV or onlineHere’s where to find our latest video forecast. You can also watch a livestream of our latest newscast here. The banner on our website turns red when we’re live.We’re also streaming on the Very Local app for Roku, Apple TV or Amazon Fire TV.
Firefighters are preparing for another hot day on Thursday as they hope to halt the spread of a Butte County wildfire that led to thousands of evacuations, injured several firefighters and destroyed multiple structures.
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.
Cal Fire in its 6:37 a.m. Thursday report said the number of acres burnt has not changed over the past 12 hours, a sign that they may soon gain control over the fire. However, it warns another day of triple-digit temperatures could increase the risk of more flames spreading.
“Firefighters on the line will continue to remain hydrated and ready in the event the fire activity increases,” Cal Fire said.
Meanwhile, some mandatory evacuations were reduced to evacuation warnings, which allows for residents to return home if not under an order.
City officials declared a local emergency Tuesday evening due to the fire. Read the official proclamation here. After the emergency was declared, Gov. 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.”
The California Attorney General’s Office is also reminding people that price gouging is illegal during states of emergency, meaning prices cannot exceed 10% of what it originally cost before the emergency declaration was made. That includes gas, food and lodging.
Anyone who thinks they may be experiencing price gouging is encouraged to call law enforcement.
Oroville’s Fourth of July fireworks event has been canceled and the Lake Oroville Recreation Area will remain closed until at least Friday. The city issued a temporary ban on the use of Safe-and-Sane fireworks.
Thompson Fire acres burned, containment, injuries and damages
As of 6:37 a.m. Thursday, Cal Fire said the number of acres burned remains at 3,568, the same reported acreage from Wednesday. This is a notable drop in wildfire activity when the fire first burned thousands of acres when it started.
NBC News reported that eight firefighters have been injured so far. A total of 1,962 first responders are working on controlling the fire, according to Cal Fire.
The fire destroyed at least four structures, and 12,180 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.
Cal Fire’s Thursday report says there is a 7% containment line 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. While a large plume is no longer visible, the skies around the burn area are hazy.
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.
On Wednesday, several evacuation orders were reduced to warnings.
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.
The Salvation Army said it will serve meals and offer spiritual services to first responders and those impacted by the Thompson Fire. Find a list of locations here.
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
Here are key websites that are important for all Californians during wildfire season.
REAL-TIME TRAFFIC MAP
Click here to see our interactive traffic map.
TRACK INTERACTIVE, DOPPLER RADAR
Click here to see our interactive radar.
DOWNLOAD OUR APP FOR THE LATEST
Here is where you can download our app.
Follow our KCRA weather team on social media
- Meteorologist Tamara Berg on Facebook and X.
- Meteorologist Dirk Verdoorn on Facebook
- Meteorologist/Climate Reporter Heather Waldman on Facebook and X.
- Meteorologist Kelly Curran on X.
Watch our forecasts on TV or online
Here’s where to find our latest video forecast. You can also watch a livestream of our latest newscast here. The banner on our website turns red when we’re live.
We’re also streaming on the Very Local app for Roku, Apple TV or Amazon Fire TV.
Read More: Thompson Fire: Crews prepare for another hot day while battling Butte County wildfire
