Thompson fire: Northern California burns in extreme heat as wildfire spreads, forcing mass evacuation – Times of India
Firefighters in Northern California worked to protect homes from a rapidly expanding wildfire on Wednesday, while helicopters conducted water drops. The blaze, which has forced the evacuation of at least 13,000 people, continues to grow amid extreme heat.Known as the Thompson Fire, it began before noon on Tuesday approximately 70 miles (110 kilometers) north of Sacramento, near Oroville in Butte County.By Wednesday , the fire had spread to almost 4.7 square miles (12.1 square kilometers) and was not contained, according to several media reports.Oroville, a city of about 20,000 people, declared a state of emergency on Tuesday night and set up evacuation centers. Authorities reminded residents that fireworks are banned in much of Butte County ahead of the Fourth of July holiday.Though the...