BUTTE COUNTY, Calif. — Thousands are under evacuation warnings and orders Wednesday as the Thompson Fire burns in Butte County near Oroville.
Cal Fire said the blaze is at 3,568 acres and 7% containment Wednesday evening. The fire sparked in the area of Cherokee and Thompson Flat Cemetery roads near Oroville Tuesday morning. Fire officials said there's a threat to multiple infrastructures, including power and water supply to the Oroville area.
"The conditions out there that are in our county this summer are much different than we've experienced the last two summers. The fuels are very dense, the brushes dry and as you can see any wind will move a fire out very quickly," Butte Unit Chief Garret Sjolound said Tuesday.
Sjolound said Tuesday fire crews are holding the fire north of the Long Bar Road area and also contained a spot fire on Rusty Dusty Road. He said crews have prioritized holding the fire at the Oroville Dam and keeping it out of Kelly Ridge.
About 28,000 residents of Butte County are under an evacuation order. Four firefighters sustained injuries while battling the wildfire, according to Cal Fire. Butte County Fire Department said the firefighters had minor heat-related injuries. Another firefighter had injuries from the fire line. Three other firefighters were injured en route to the fire due to a crash in Oroville
Oroville declared a local emergency Tuesday due to the wildfire. Gov. Gavin Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency in response to the fire and federal funding was approved to help with firefighting efforts.
STAY INFORMED:
Below are six maps showing the current conditions for everything from evacuations to weather.
EVACUATIONS:
Evacuation Shelters
- Oroville Church of the Nazarene: 2238 Monte Vista Avenue in Oroville
- Butte County Fairgrounds: 199 E Hazel Street in Gridley
Animal Shelters
- Large animal shelter: 1985 Clark Road in Oroville and one for
- Small animal shelter: 2279 Del Oro Avenue in Oroville (no fowl, including chickens, are allowed at the shelter). This shelter is at capacity as of 10:30 a.m. The county is working on an additional shelter.
Type in your address or move the map around to see the latest evacuation warnings and orders.
FIRE LOCATION MAP:
This map from the National Interagency Fire Center shows fire activity (this may take a few seconds to load):
TRAFFIC MAP
Waze's traffic map shows the closed roads:
WEATHER MAP
Radar map from ABC10.com. You can tap "locations" in the bottom left corner to find your specific area. Adjust the layers with a filter on the bottom right corner to show heat, wind and other conditions:
WILDFIRE PREPS
If you live in a wildfire-prone zone, Cal Fire suggests creating a defensible space around your home. Defensible space is an area around a building in which vegetation and other debris are completely cleared. At least 100 feet is recommended.
The Department of Homeland Security suggests assembling an emergency kit that has important documents, N95 respirator masks, and supplies to grab with you if you’re forced to leave at a moment’s notice. The agency also suggests signing up for local warning system notifications and knowing your community’s evacuation plans best to prepare yourself and your family in cases of wildfires.
Some counties use Nixle alerts to update residents on severe weather, wildfires, and other news. To sign up, visit www.nixle.com or text your zip code to 888777 to start receiving alerts.
PG&E customers can also subscribe to alerts via text, email, or phone call. If you're a PG&E customer, visit the Profile & Alerts section of your account to register.
What questions do you have about the latest wildfires? If you're impacted by the wildfires, what would you like to know? Text the ABC10 team at (916) 321-3310.
WATCH MORE: 100-degree heat is on the way. Here's the forecast
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