Teeth clenched in fear as he grips the steering wheel of his Toyota Yaris, this is the terrified face of a California man fleeing massive wildfires in the Golden State.
The unidentified resident is one of more than 28,000 people ordered to evacuate Butte County after the Thompson wildfire scorched more than 3,000 acres, with more destruction certain to follow.
The fire broke out shortly before noon Tuesday about 70 miles north of the state capital, Sacramento, and has since grown to nearly 4.7 square miles.
Governor Gavin Newsom had to declare a state of emergency as crews struggled to contain the raging inferno visible from space.
Images captured at the scene show helicopters dropping water on the flames as brave firefighters attempted to battle the blaze on the ground.
The unidentified resident is one of more than 28,000 who have been ordered to evacuate Butte County.
The Thompson Fire, seen here, broke out shortly before noon Tuesday about 70 miles north of the state capital, Sacramento.
Cal Fire said the fire had grown to more than 3,500 acres by Wednesday afternoon and was zero percent contained, according to an update.
CBS News He said more than a dozen aircraft, 50 engines and 15 excavators were involved in the shooting.
They also said four firefighters were injured fighting the blaze and that 1,400 crew members were called to the scene along with eight helicopters.
About 13,000 people east of Lake Oroville have been ordered to evacuate because of the fires, according to the Butte County Sheriff’s Office.
Residents stayed on the hillsides overnight, watching the orange glow, as planes dropped water to prevent the fire from spreading.
A team of more than a dozen firefighters saved a home as goats and other farm animals ran for safety.
Garret Sjolund, chief of the Butte County unit of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, said, “The conditions in our county this summer are very different than we’ve experienced the last two summers.
“The fuels are very dense, the brush is dry and as you can see, any wind can put out the fire very quickly.”
Current conditions have prompted Pacific Gas & Electric to implement targeted public safety power shutoffs in parts of Northern California to prevent fires from occurring due to downed or damaged power lines.
More than a dozen aircraft, 50 engines and 15 excavators were involved in the fighting.
Due to the fires, about 13,000 people east of Lake Oroville have been ordered to evacuate, according to the Butte County Sheriff’s Office.
A firefighter runs as he battles the Thompson Fire burning in Oroville, California, on Tuesday.
Oroville is expected to see record temperatures of 110 or higher over the next five days, with warnings that it could hit an all-time high of 113 on Saturday.
Meanwhile, the Basin Fire in Fresno County has burned more than 13,000 acres and is currently only 26 percent contained.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency Wednesday in an attempt to ensure resources are available to help fight the ongoing fires.
Newsom said: ‘We are using every tool available to address this fire and will continue to work closely with our local and federal partners to support the affected communities.
‘As we enter some of the most challenging months of the wildfire season, the state is better prepared than ever to protect at-risk communities with new tools, technology and resources.’
Authorities have warned of full legal consequences for any illegal use of fireworks during the July 4 holiday.
A boat crosses Lake Oroville with a smoldering hillside behind as the Thompson Fire burns in Oroville, California, Wednesday, July 3, 2024.
Flames consume vehicles on Bessie Lane as the Thompson Fire burns in Oroville, California, Tuesday, July 2.
Flames engulf a home during the Thompson Fire in Oroville, California, on July 2, 2024.
“Don’t be an idiot, start a fire and create more problems for us,” said Butte County Sheriff Kory L. Honea.
“Nobody in the community is going to want that. And we certainly don’t want that.”
The ongoing fire comes as California was already on high alert for wildfires, with high temperatures and relentless winds exacerbating fire risks.
Parts of the state have already been exposed to “extreme” levels of heat risk, according to the National Weather Service Index.
The conditions could last into Sunday or longer, with some areas warned of potentially deadly triple-digit temperatures.
The conditions were caused by a ridge of high pressure just off the West Coast and a separate ridge that prompted heat warnings and advisories from Kansas and Missouri to the Gulf Coast states, according to the National Weather Service.
