Oroville Fire: Everything To Know

Oroville Fire: Cause, How it happened,  Casualties, Previosus Fires, Response And Everything To Know

 Incident Details:

• The fire ignited near Cherokee Road and Thompson Flat Cemetery Road in Oroville on July 2, 2024.
• By the end of that day, it had grown to over 2,000 acres, forcing multiple evacuation orders and warnings.
• As of July 4, 2024, the fire remains 0% contained after burning 3,500 acres.

Cause of the Thompson Fire:

• • The Thompson Fire ignited near Cherokee Road and Thompson Flat Road in Oroville, California on July 2, 2024.
  • The specific cause of the fire is under investigation.

How It Happened:

• • The fire rapidly grew to 3,560 acres with no containment. ue to high temperatures (reaching 109 degrees) and challenging conditions.
  • Over 1,400 firefighters, eight helicopters, 199 engines, and 46 bulldozers battled the blaze.

Casualties and Evacuations:

• • 28,000 people were evacuated from Oroville and surrounding communities in Butte County.
  • 8 firefighters sustained injuries during firefighting efforts.
  • No civilian fatalities have been reported.

Previous Fires in Oroville:

• • In 2018, the Camp Fire (20 miles north of Oroville) killed 85 people. And destroyed most of the town of Paradise, making it the deadliest fire in California’s history.
  • In 2017, the area also faced wildfires.

 Emergency Measures:

• California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in response to the Thompson Fire.
• PG&E turned off power lines in the burn area for firefighter safety. Also impacting around 10,000 customers in Plumas County.

 Impact on Oroville Dam:

• The fire left burn scars on the Oroville Dam, the nation’s tallest dam.

 Here are the affected zones:

1. Cherokee Area:
   • Evacuation orders cover Zones 534, 535, and 536 in the Cherokee area of Oroville.
   • This includes the communities of Oregon City and Kelly Ridge.
2. Lake Oroville West Shore:
   • Approximately 50 square miles on Lake Oroville’s west shore are under evacuation orders.
   • The order extends into Oroville itself.
3. Evacuation Centers:
   • Evacuation centers are set up at:
     • Nazarene Church in Oroville (2238 Monte Vista Ave.)
     • Fairgrounds in Gridley (199 E. Hazel St.)
   • Small animals can be taken to 2279 Del Oro Ave. in Oroville, and large animals to Camelot Equestrian Park (1985 Clark Road, Oroville).