Oroville Fire: 28,000 residents forced to flee

OROVILLE: More than 28,000 residents in the sleepy town of Oroville were forced to evacuate their homes due to a wild fire raging across the state of California, United States on Wednesday.

The “Thompson Fire” broke out on Tuesday morning in Oroville. By Wednesday afternoon, it had burned 3,568 acres, as per the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire).

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

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The Oroville fire has already destroyed at least four buildings and other infrastructure. Authorities fear damage to 12,000 other building and structures, including power lines.

Nearly 1,500 people were dispatched to combat the flames.

So far, there have been no reports of civilian casualties, although four firefighters sustained minor heat-related injuries.

The town of Oroville has experienced huge wildfires in the past, with the most recent 2018 Camp Fire having killed 85 people. The governor of California declared a state of emergency, while the federal government approved federal funds to help with firefighting efforts.

The Thompson Fire is one of 17 active wildfires burning across the US state, caused by a heatwave. In 2024 alone, California has been struck by over 2,934 wildfires, destroying over 139,500 acres of land.