Cal Fires Force Thousands to Because of the flames, residents in Northern California are being forced to leave.
Northern California officials urged tens of thousands of residents to flee after a heatwave caused flames. Now they can return. Butte County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Megan McMann said the Thompson Fire, which started on Tuesday, forced 16,000 people to evacuate, while officials initially estimated 28,000. McMann said all evacuations were halted by 18:00 local time Thursday (02:00 BST Friday). In other regions of the state, officials issued new orders hours earlier.
The extremely hot weather that has caused over three thousand wildfires in the state is expected to continue with 118 degrees Fahrenheit (47 degrees Celsius). Wildfire suppression operations are threatened by the warmth, which is forecast to last until early next week. No one has been killed, but 74 structures in the state have burned this season.
About 2,000 firefighters who had been fighting the Thompson Fire since Tuesday had it under control by Friday morning. CalFire reported four injuries, but their severity is unknown.
The Mariposa County French Fire started Thursday night, forcing evacuations and road closures 241 miles (387 km) south of the Thompson Fire.
Deputies informed residents of evacuation orders by going door-to-door, according to local news. Additionally, patients at a nearby hospital received instructions to remain indoors.
A new blaze, the French Fire, started Thursday in Mariposa County, south of the Thompson Fire.
After flames swept over the area during a heatwave, officials ordered tens of thousands of people in northern California to evacuate their homes. Now, they are able to return. Megan McMann, a spokesman for the Butte County Sheriff’s Office, said the Thompson Fire, which broke out on Tuesday, led to evacuation orders and warnings for around 16,000 people, though officials initially reported 28,000. All evacuations were lifted by Thursday evening, though new orders were issued elsewhere in the state.
Temperatures of 118°F (47°C) are predicted, continuing the dangerously hot weather that has sparked over three thousand wildfires. The heatwave, expected to persist until early next week, casts doubt on efforts to contain numerous wildfires. Although no lives have been lost, flames have destroyed 74 structures this season.
By Friday morning, nearly 2,000 firefighters who had been battling the Thompson Fire had brought it under control. CalFire reported four injuries, but the severity remains unclear.
On Thursday night, the French Fire ignited in Mariposa County, triggering evacuations and road closures 241 miles (387 km) south of the Thompson Fire. Deputies informed residents of evacuation orders door-to-door, and patients at a nearby hospital were instructed to stay indoors.
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