California blaze forces thousands to flee as heatwave intensifies
5:07 AM EDT, July 4, 2024, updated: 7:00 AM EDT, July 4, 2024
The situation in California is serious. Firefighters are battling forest fires, and thousands of people have been evacuated. Heat warnings have been issued to millions.
The most dangerous fire broke out in Oroville, destroying several buildings. Thousands of people were evacuated, and Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in the affected area.
Fires in California
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, stated Newsom.
The Los Angeles Times reported that on Wednesday, July 3, the Thompson fire was also being fought with the help of airplanes. Firefighters battled the Thompson fire with temperatures around 109°F and wind gusts up to 30 mph. Such conditions are not conducive to firefighting and can even exacerbate the situation.
A difficult situation
On Wednesday morning, the fire spread over about 3,000 acres. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection emphasized that it threatened 230 structures.
Four firefighters were injured during the operation. Evacuation orders affected thousands in and around the city and Butte County. Pacific Gas & Electric Co.'s power outages impacted two thousand customers.
According to the National Weather Service (NWS), record and dangerous temperatures are affecting California, the southern plains, and the mid-Atlantic region. Heat alerts and warnings have been issued to 110 million people in 21 states.
