Thompson Fire

Thompson Fire
Part of the 2024 California wildfires
The Thompson Fire as seen from Lake Oroville on July 2, 2024.
Date(s)July 2, 2024 (2024-07-02) – July 8, 2024 (2024-07-08)
LocationButte County, California, U.S.
Coordinates39°32′17″N 121°32′48″W / 39.53793°N 121.5467°W / 39.53793; -121.5467
Statistics[1]
Perimeter100% contained
Burned area3,789 acres (1,533 ha)
Impacts
Non-fatal injuries4
Evacuated29,000[2]
Structures destroyed26 (8 damaged)
Ignition
CauseArson
Map
Location of Thompson Fire in 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]

Background

The Thompson Fire sparked amidst a heat wave described as "exceptionally dangerous and lethal" by the National Weather Service.[4] The fire was allegedly caused by arson, with a man testing fireworks by throwing one out of the window. An arrest was made on August 22.[5] The heat wave had 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.[6]

Fire

The fire sparked at 10:51 a.m. on Tuesday, July 2, 2024, near Cherokee Road and Thompson Flat Cemetery Road.[7] 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.[8][9] 13 thousand residents of Oroville were evacuated from the area.[9]

On Wednesday, the fire had scorched more than 3,000 acres (1,200 ha).[10] It was originally reported that eight firefighters were injured, three in a car crash and four were heat-related.[11] However, that number had dropped to four on Thursday.[2] Four structures were also destroyed.[12]

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

Fire containment status Gray: contained; Red: active; %: percent contained
Date Total area burned Personnel Containment
Jul 2[13] 2,135 acres (864 ha) 514 personnel
0%
Jul 3[14] 3,002 acres (1,215 ha) 1,438 personnel
0%
Jul 4[15] 3,789 acres (1,533 ha) 2,219 personnel
29%
Jul 5[16] 3,789 acres (1,533 ha) 1,930 personnel
55%
Jul 6[17] 3,789 acres (1,533 ha) 1,728 personnel
79%
Jul 7[18] 3,789 acres (1,533 ha) 1,185 personnel
94%
Jul 8[19] 3,789 acres (1,533 ha) 6 personnel
100%

References

  1. ^ "Thompson Fire". California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c Wolfe, Jonathan (July 4, 2024). "Northern California Wildfire Slows, Allowing Some Residents to Return Home". The New York Times. Retrieved July 4, 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ Ruberg, Sara (August 26, 2024). "Man Is Charged With Arson in California Wildfire That Destroyed 13 Homes". The New York Times. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  6. ^ Baek, Susan (July 3, 2024). "Thompson Fire in Northern California forces evacuations as blaze rages". NBC News. Retrieved July 4, 2024.
  7. ^ Robinson, Adam; Harting, Ashley (July 2, 2024). "Emergency declared as 13K residents evacuated by Thompson Fire in Northern California". KATV. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ a b Nobert, Matthew (July 3, 2024). "Governor's Office declares state of emergency for Thompson Fire". KSEE. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
  10. ^ Holpuch, Amanda (July 3, 2024). "13,000 Are Ordered to Evacuate as Wildfire Spreads in Northern California". The New York Times. Retrieved July 3, 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  11. ^ Hernandez, Javier (July 3, 2024). "8 firefighters injured during the Thompson Fire". Action News Now. Retrieved July 4, 2024.
  12. ^ 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. Retrieved July 4, 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  13. ^ "Thompson Fire Incident Update for 07/02/2024 at 9:57 PM". California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
  14. ^ "Thompson Fire Incident Update for 07/03/2024 at 3:33 PM". California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
  15. ^ "Thompson Fire Incident Update for 07/04/2024 at 9:52 PM". California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
  16. ^ "Thompson Fire Incident Update for 07/05/2024 at 7:12 PM". California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
  17. ^ "Thompson Fire Incident Update for 07/06/2024 at 7:13 PM". California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Retrieved July 7, 2024.
  18. ^ "Thompson Fire Incident Update for 07/07/2024 at 6:17 PM". California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
  19. ^ "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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