Thompson Fire | |
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![]() The Thompson Fire as seen from Lake Oroville on July 2, 2024. | |
Date(s) | July 2, 2024 – July 8, 2024 |
Location | Butte County, California, U.S. |
Coordinates | 39°32′17″N121°32′48″W / 39.53793°N 121.5467°W |
Statistics [1] | |
Perimeter | 100% contained |
Burned area | 3,789 acres (1,533 ha) |
Impacts | |
Non-fatal injuries | 4 |
Evacuated | 29,000 [2] |
Ignition | |
Cause | Under investigation |
Map | |
![]() Perimeter of the Thompson Fire (map data) | |
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]
The Thompson Fire sparked amidst a heat wave described as "exceptionally dangerous and lethal" by the National Weather Service. [4] The heat wave has 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. [5]
The fire sparked at 10:51 a.m. on Tuesday, July 2, 2024, near Cherokee Road and Thompson Flat Cemetery Road. [6] 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. [7] [8] 13 thousand residents of Oroville were evacuated from the area. [8]
On Wednesday, the fire had scorched more than 3,000 acres (1,200 ha). [9] It was originally reported that eight firefighters were injured, three in a car crash and four were heat-related. [10] However, that number had dropped to four on Thursday. [2] Four structures were also destroyed. [11]
By Thursday, it was reported that growth of the fire had slowed, partly due to winds that were fueling the fire dying down. [2]
Date | Total area burned | Personnel | Containment | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jul 2 [12] | 2,135 acres (864 ha) | 514 personnel | 0% | ||
Jul 3 [13] | 3,002 acres (1,215 ha) | 1,438 personnel | 0% | ||
Jul 4 [14] | 3,789 acres (1,533 ha) | 2,219 personnel | 29% | ||
Jul 5 [15] | 3,789 acres (1,533 ha) | 1,930 personnel | 55% | ||
Jul 6 [16] | 3,789 acres (1,533 ha) | 1,728 personnel | 79% | ||
Jul 7 [17] | 3,789 acres (1,533 ha) | 1,185 personnel | 94% | ||
Jul 8 [18] | 3,789 acres (1,533 ha) | 6 personnel | 100% |
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