Wildfires in California: Thousands evacuated

Heatwave on the US West Coast - Wildfires in California: Thousands evacuated

In the US state of California, several forest fires have broken out. The most dangerous fire hotspot is the "Thompson" Fire in the town of Oroville, about 110 kilometers north of Sacramento, according to the "Los Angeles Times" in a Tuesday (local time) report.

Already around 13,000 people in Butte County had to evacuate their homes, quoted the newspaper a spokesperson from the local Sheriff's Office. There have been no fatalities from the currently raging fires in the state, according to the California Fire Department, Cal Fire.

At Calistoga in Napa County north of San Francisco, a forest fire kept firefighters and residents on edge, according to US broadcaster NBC. Cal Fire reported that they had managed to bring 15% of the so-called "Toll" Fire under control by Tuesday afternoon. Evacuation orders were therefore reportedly lifted.

In Oroville, over 500 firefighting personnel were engaged in fighting the flames according to Cal Fire's statements. The exact cause of the forest fire is still being investigated. Images and videos in social media and local news show several burning buildings, helicopters dropped water on the burning areas.

There are frequent forest fires in California due to extreme heat, great drought, and thunderstorms. A new heatwave could drive temperatures in the state up to over 40 degrees Celsius for the US National Holiday on July 4, the National Weather Service reported.

For wide areas of the state, a warning is in effect for extreme fire weather and excessive heat. The Weather Service warned of a combination of strong winds with speeds over 40 mph, low air humidity, and high temperatures.

1. The "Los Angeles Times" reported that California's emergency services are intensely dealing with numerous forest fires, with the "Thompson" Fire in Oroville being the most critical hotspot.
2. The source of the "Thompson" Fire in Oroville is still under investigation by the fire department, despite numerous burning buildings and the use of water-dropping helicopters.
3. According to Cal Fire, heatwaves, droughts, and thunderstorms are frequent causes of forest fires in California, increasing the risk of incidents like the ongoing ones.
4. The Los Angeles Times also stated that the California Fire Department, Cal Fire, reported no fatalities from the current forest fires, but around 13,000 people in Butte County had to evacuate their homes.
5. In response to the ongoing "Toll" Fire at Calistoga in Napa County, Cal Fire managed to bring 15% of the fire under control by Tuesday afternoon, leading to evacuation order lifts.
6. The US National Weather Service forecasted a new heatwave, which could push temperatures in California up to over 40 degrees Celsius on the US National Holiday on July 4, increasing the likelihood of fires along the US West Coast.
7. Alert warnings are in effect for large parts of California due to extreme fire weather and excessive heat, as reported by the National Weather Service, warning of high winds, low humidity, and high temperatures in the region.

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