A devastating wildfire that forced the evacuation of 29,000 people from an area near Oroville in Butte County, Calif., subsided enough Thursday that most residents were allowed to return to their homes, officials said.
Fire crews battled the blaze overnight, and as of Thursday morning, the spread of the blaze, dubbed the Thompson Fire, was relatively stable, burning about 3,700 acres. The initial strong winds weakened the fire throughout the night.
As of Thursday afternoon, the Butte County Sheriff’s Office lifted evacuation orders and warnings for more than 20 counties, and downgraded evacuation orders for about 20 counties, allowing more than 26,000 residents displaced by the fire to return. About 2,780 people are under mandatory evacuation orders.
So far, four firefighters have been injured and four structures have been destroyed as a result of the fire, according to Cal Fires. Incident report. According to reports, the fire also gutted vehicles.
“Overall, things are looking pretty good,” said Kevin Colburn, a spokesman for Cal Fire. “The fire did not do what it did on the first day. It does not burn at a fast spreading rate. It is very beautiful in its footprint.”
Mr. Goulburn said. As of Thursday morning, the fire was 7 percent contained.
Some who returned to the area on Thursday were nervous. Angel Williams, assistant manager of Foothill Boarding and Grooming in Oroville, spent the morning moving a group of dogs back into their kennels after they were evacuated Tuesday.
The nearby mountains were charred and charred, and hot, smoky air drifted through the compound. The facility was not damaged, but Ms Williams tried to reduce the number of animals in her care, sending dogs to owners’ emergency contacts in case the situation changed.
“We’re still on standby,” Ms Williams said, adding that the fire was still burning a few miles away. “I’ve had a huge headache all day because I’m so anxious.”
Much of California is experiencing a severe heat wave that is not expected to subside until next week. Temperatures are expected to reach 110 degrees in Oroville on Thursday, with even hotter conditions expected in the coming days. Rising temperatures and low humidity may contribute to increased fire activity, officials said. On Wednesday, two small fires burned within a few miles of the blaze near Oroville, but were quickly brought under control.
Butte County has seen several devastating wildfires in recent years, including the 2018 Camp Fire, one of the deadliest wildfires in U.S. history. It killed 85 people and completely destroyed the town of Paradise, about 20 miles north of Oroville.