Apache Fire Burns Near Oroville – Chico Enterprise-Record

The Apache Fire burns in Palermo, California, after igniting Monday, June 24, 2024. (Cal Fire/Contributed)

PALERMO — A wildfire that started Monday evening spread from Palermo to Oroville, with nearly 700 acres burning Tuesday morning.

The Apache Fire, which started around 7:20 p.m. at Apache Hill Road and Cresmont Drive, grew to 673 acres as of 6:45 a.m., according to Cal Fire. The fire was only 15% contained, with two structures lost and one of the 198 deployed responders injured.

The Butte County Sheriff's Office issued evacuation orders for eight areas and warnings in three others. Orders have been placed for Palermo zones 865, 866, 868, 869, 884, 885, 886 and 887-A; the warnings covered area 826 in southeast Oroville, as well as areas 867-A and 883 in Palermo.

The evacuation shelter at Oroville Nazarene Church closed due to its proximity to the fire, BCSO said, and was moved to the Butte County Fairgrounds in Gridley. The Del Oro Small Animal Shelter in Oroville houses pets, with larger animals housed at Camelot Equestrian Park in Butte Valley.

Cal Fire's Butte unit reported that “crews are continuing to construct hotlines around the perimeter” and “more resources are coming in to support operations.” Many firefighting air tankers across the state perform fire suppression missions when conditions permit.

The forecast called for rain at the fire site.

Local pyrogeographer Zeke Lunder noted in an early morning update that the fire appeared “pretty contained” but did not benefit from overnight conditions. He said on social media that the Bangor weather station indicated the humidity was no higher than 32 percent and the temperature only fell to 71 degrees.