california heat wave temperatures : The West is warming up under a large, prolonged heat wave through July 4 with triple-digit temperatures ahead of it and the threat of wildfires growing as thousands of people have had to flee their homes from the Northern California fires.
The Thompson Fire has consumed more than 3,700 acres in California’s Butte County since it was reported Tuesday, drawing hundreds of firefighters to battle the flames under extreme heat in California’s Oroville area. According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, as of Thursday morning, the fire is 7% contained.
According to California Fire spokesman Chris Peterson, 11 firefighters were injured in the blaze. Peterson said heat-related illnesses have affected eight firefighters who have been evaluated and are in the process of being cleared.
Peterson said three other firefighters were injured in a rollover accident Wednesday morning. All three were taken to the hospital and two have since recovered. california heat wave temperatures
As of Thursday morning, 12,000 residents living in and around Oroville remained under evacuation orders, Peterson said.
According to the Cal Fire incident update, at least four structures have been destroyed and more than 12,000 are threatened by the fire.
Oroville resident Rachel Thompson could see flames and smoke coming from her backyard before fleeing her home on Tuesday night.
“It was a difficult night for our family,” Thompson told CNN in a message. “The smoke in our house was incredibly bad even though the 4 purifiers were gone. ”
Although she has since received news that the fire has moved away from her home, she is worried for her neighbors and friends, many of whom are displaced and don’t know if their homes are still standing. california heat wave temperatures
“We hope that our friends and family will be able to make it home and that they will all be safe.
The people of California are very familiar with the sudden devastation caused by wildfires. The Thompson Fire is burning just 20 miles south of Paradise, where California’s deadliest wildfire in 2018 killed 85 people and destroyed thousands of homes.
According to Cal Fire, there are now more than two dozen active wildfires of varying sizes burning throughout California, and the Thompson Fire is the largest.
“We’re seeing fires along the coast of San Diego, down to the foothills of Butte,” Cal Fire Deputy Director Nick Schuler told CNN on Wednesday. “Our firefighters are battling fires across California and are often on the line for more than 24 hours. These are difficult situations that they face.
Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency for the area of the Thompson Fire on Wednesday, clearing the way for additional resources, including the possibility of mobilizing the California National Guard to assist.
According to Cal Fire, the state is seeing an active fire season, with 139,590 acres burned so far in 2024, compared to 7,812 acres burned by this time last year.
“What we’ve seen so far in California – wildfires have increased by more than 600%,” Schuler told CNN.
The extreme heat combined with strong winds and low humidity is setting the stage for the fire to spread rapidly through already dry vegetation, and it represents another obstacle for firefighters battling the blaze. A red flag warning is in effect throughout the West, including the Thompson Fire Zone.
“This winter we enjoyed a lot of rain and it brought a lot of vegetation that was green a few weeks ago,” Schuler said. “Now, that heat is accompanied by a rise in temperature, resulting in rapid growth of fires across the state. ”
The Basin Fire in Fresno County, California is 46% contained to 13,980 acres. Meanwhile, firefighters have the Fresno June Lightning Complex almost entirely on 10,669 acres.
“The coming week is likely to be very challenging for firefighters,” Cal Fire officials said in a video update Tuesday. “It only takes one spark to start a major forest fire that threatens life. ”
Auroville will see a record temperature of 110 or more in each of the next five days. Saturday could hit an all-time record high of 113 – making it much harder for firefighters to fight fires.
No respite from scorching heat for several days
The record-breaking heat is making the fourth week of July dangerous for much of the West and from the Southern Plains to the Mid-Atlantic.
Nationwide, more than 140 million people in more than 20 states in parts of the South and West are under heat warnings – and there won’t be any relief until the middle of next week.
“This period of heat is also worrisome as above-average temperatures are expected through next week,” the National Weather Service said. “The effects of heat can increase over time, so it’s important to be aware of the weather and follow the advice of local authorities. “
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Publish date : 2024-07-05 05:42:57
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