California’s Thompson Fire 46% Contained, Most Residents Return Home

As of Thursday afternoon, the Thompson wildfire in northern California was contained enough for most of the roughly 17,000 residents who had been evacuated to return home.

The fire began near Oroville on Tuesday, but was 46 percent contained as of Friday morning, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire).

“Overall, things are looking pretty good,” said Kevin Colburn, Cal Fire spokesperson, as The New York Times reported. “The fire is not doing what it was doing on the first day. It’s not burning with a rapid rate of spread. It’s pretty much staying in the footprint that it’s in.”

While Colburn said officials were feeling “more confident,” some residents remained uneasy.

The Thompson Fire had burned 3,789 acres by the time powerful winds that had initially driven the wildfire weakened.

Evacuation orders and warnings were lifted for 20-plus zones by the Butte County Sheriff’s Office Thursday, with orders and warnings being downgraded for an additional 20 or so.

Kristi Olio, a Butte County public information officer, said the “vast majority” of those under orders or warnings to evacuate had been able to return home, reported The Associated Press. Earlier reports were that 26,000 had been under orders or warnings, Olio said, which was inaccurate. The number was closer to 17,000, but the fire had developed so quickly it had been hard to get definite numbers.

According to Cal Fire, 25 structures had been destroyed by the fire, while six were damaged and 4,384 were threatened.

Four firefighters had reported injuries, all due to the extreme heat, The Associated Press reported.

An excessive heat warning was still in effect.

“For today, dangerous heat will continue across the incident. Afternoon temperatures will climb into the 104-112 range,” Cal Fire said. “The hot and dry conditions will continue through Sunday and early next week.”

Officials said the increasing heat, along with low humidity, could add to more fire activity, reported The New York Times. Two smaller fires started near Oroville on Wednesday, but were quickly brought under control.

“The winds are slowly picking up,” said Chris Peterson, an information officer for Cal Fire, as The Associated Press reported. “You add that with the heat and low humidity,” and the fire potential increases.

Butte County is no stranger to destructive wildfires. In 2018, Paradise — a town of less than 7,000 residents 21 miles north of Oroville — was nearly destroyed by the deadly Camp Fire, which killed 85 people.

As millions across the United States endure a scorching heat wave, California is experiencing “significantly more wildfire activity at this point,” a statement from the office of Governor Gavin Newsom said, as reported by The Associated Press.