The Bay Area and parts of Northern California are experiencing extreme heat and fire concerns, leading to several cancellations of Fourth of July celebrations. The Thompson fire in Butte County has forced over 29,000 people to evacuate their homes due to the growing wildfire.
On July 2, the Thompson fire started near Cherokee and Thompson Flat Cemetery roads in Butte County. By July 3, officials had declared a local emergency due to the spreading flames. The city of Oroville was among those affected by evacuation orders as the fire continued to grow.
The excessive heat warning has also impacted other Bay Area cities such as Antioch and Healdsburg, which have canceled their Fourth of July parades and fireworks shows due to the dangerously high temperatures. St. Helena in Napa County has postponed its fireworks show to a later date when conditions are more favorable.
The Thompson fire is currently at around 3,500 acres and only 7% contained as of July 4. Firefighters are working tirelessly to halt the spread of the flames amid triple-digit temperatures. The heatwave is expected to continue until early next week, increasing the risk of more fires starting.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency in Butte County to provide resources for those affected by the Thompson fire. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CalFire) is leading the efforts to contain the wildfire.
Despite these challenges, some residents are finding ways to celebrate Independence Day. In Cloverdale, officials are still planning on holding their annual Fourth of July fireworks display at Cloverdale High School. The city has also stopped the sale of fireworks due to the Red Flag conditions and prolonged heat wave.
The Thompson fire is just one of many that have broken out across California in recent weeks. The state is experiencing a bad fire season, with around two dozen fires having burned more than 10 acres since late June. The largest one, at nearly 14,000 acres, was in Fresno county.
The excessive heat and wildfires are not the only challenges facing California. Climate change has contributed to an increase in burned areas during the summer months in northern and central California compared to previous years. The amount of burned areas has increased five times from 1996 to 2021.
Despite these challenges, Californians remain resilient and are working together to stay safe and support each other during this difficult time.
