Both fires come as California experiences extreme heat conditions earlier than usual and deals with over a dozen other burning fires.
Governor Gavin Newsom secured a Fire Management Assistance Grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help cover fire-fighting costs.
The French Fire broke out on June 30, 2023, and forced mandatory evacuations for about 1,100 people. It is currently 15% contained.
The Thompson Fire started on July 2 and led to injuries and the destruction of multiple homes. Evacuation orders were reduced to warnings on July 2.
Two wildfires, the French Fire and Thompson Fire, have caused evacuations near Yosemite National Park in California.
Two wildfires, the French Fire in Mariposa County and the Thompson Fire in Butte County, have caused evacuations and threatened communities near Yosemite National Park in California. The French Fire broke out on June 30, 2023, near French Camp Road at Highway 49 northwest of Mariposa. It grew to over 900 acres by July 5 and forced mandatory evacuations for about 1,100 people due to the threat it poses to the town of Mariposa. The fire is currently 15% contained, with Cal Fire mobilizing ground units and a helicopter to quell the blaze. Evacuation orders have been lifted for some areas, but residents are advised to stay aware of conditions in case they need to evacuate again.
The Thompson Fire started around 11 a.m. on July 2 near Cherokee and Thompson Flat Cemetery roads in Butte County, leading to injuries and the destruction of multiple homes. Evacuation orders were reduced to warnings on July 2, allowing residents to return home, but traffic on Oregon Gulch Road in Zone 535 is restricted to residents only.
Both fires come as California experiences extreme heat conditions earlier than usual, with temperatures peaking in August. The state is also dealing with over a dozen other burning fires and the threat of more as landscapes coated in grasses primed to burn during the summer heating up. Governor Gavin Newsom secured a Fire Management Assistance Grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help cover fire-fighting costs.
Despite these challenges, officials encourage visitors to come to Yosemite National Park and support local businesses in Mariposa and other affected areas. They urge visitors to be safe, take it easy, and follow all safety guidelines.
French Fire in Mariposa County has burned 843 acres and is 15% contained.
Marie Matheson, owner of Lone Wolf Designs in Mariposa, described last night as ‘terrifying’ due to the nearby fire.
Jacob Hawley, operations manager of the Mariposa Visitor Center, mentioned some businesses closed last night and a few were not open on Friday due to concerns for their properties.
Deputy Chief Christopher Trindade announced that Highway 140 was opened for travelers going to and from Yosemite with localized escorts from CHP.
The community of Mariposa is encouraging visitors to come despite the nearby fire, urging them to be safe and take it easy.
Accuracy
]The French fire grew to more than 900 acres by Friday afternoon.[
A fast-moving wildfire near Yosemite National Park is threatening rural communities.
The French fire broke out on Thursday and grew to more than 900 acres by Friday afternoon.
Evacuations have been ordered for some 1,100 people due to the fire.
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(95%)
The article contains some instances of appeals to authority and inflammatory rhetoric, but no formal or dichotomous fallacies are present. The author quotes multiple sources, including fire officials and the National Weather Service, to establish the facts of the situation. The use of phrases like 'blistering heatwave' and 'brutal heat' could be considered inflammatory rhetoric, but they do not detract from the accuracy of the information presented.
][Cal Fire]’s status report from Friday states that “winds have calmed which has helped firefighters make progress overnight.”[] The National Weather Service predicts that temperatures will top 100F (38C) on Friday in the affected areas.
The excessive heat is causing oxygen levels in bodies of water to drop, leading to fish die-offs. For example, about 1,000 fish have died at Lake Elizabeth in Fremont, California.
Palm Springs set an all-time high temperature record of 124 degrees on June 30, 2023.
A fire named French fire started near French Camp Road at Highway 49 just northwest of Mariposa on June 30, 2023.
The largest of these fires is the Basin fire in Fresno County, which started on June 26, 2023, and was 14,027 acres and 46% contained as of Friday.
California is experiencing these extreme heat conditions earlier than usual, with temperatures typically peaking in August.
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains an inflammatory rhetoric by stating that California is experiencing a dangerous heat wave and that the temperatures are priming much of the state's landscape to burn. This creates a sense of urgency and fear without providing evidence for these claims. Additionally, there is an appeal to authority when quoting Ryan Kittell, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard, Jamie Williams, spokesperson with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, and Dakari Anderson, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Sacramento. The use of inflammatory language and appeals to authority without evidence constitutes a score of 85.
A dangerous heat wave broiling California fueled new fires in the state this week, with Palm Springs recording an all-time high of 124 degrees.
These conditions are so hot anything that can create a spark can create a fire that can grow real fast.
It's looking a lot better. [Friday morning] they've been concentrating on the eastern side of the fire, which has a bit steeper, more isolated terrain.
