As Thompson Fire Slows, Another California Wildfire Triggers Evacuations

Lina Portman3 days ago

0 2 minutes read

Another fast-moving wildfire has broken out in California, this time near a gateway town to Yosemite National Park, prompting mandatory evacuations and road closures.

The French Fire broke out Thursday night on French Camp Road in Mariposa County after a heat wave that brought days of scorching temperatures. As of 6 a.m. local time Friday, the fire had spread to 850 acres and was 5 percent contained, according to Cal Fire’s Madera-Mariposa-Merced unit. Some of the town’s 17,000 residents were ordered to evacuate, with videos on social media showing plumes of smoke rising above the town.

This is the latest fire in California, in the midst of a particularly dangerous fire season. This week alone, 23 fires have broken out across the state, forcing some cities to cancel Fourth of July fireworks displays to avoid wildfires. Most active fires are at least 50 percent contained, and no deaths have been reported.

Firefighters were able to stop the spread of the French Fire overnight as winds died down. They are now focusing on the east side of the fire after bulldozers and hand crews built a line on the east side of Mariposa. A church has been designated as a temporary evacuation point. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

The fire closed a 1.6-mile section of Highway 140, which is one of the main routes in and out of Yosemite.

Cal Fire crews have also been able to contain the large Thompson Fire in Butte County in recent days, with temperatures expected to reach 114 degrees Friday. That fire has grown to 3,789 acres and was 46% contained as of Friday morning. The city of Oroville, home to about 20,000 people, has not been immune to the damage, with 25 structures destroyed by the fire. Additionally, two firefighters were injured.

According to the U.S. Forest Service, Cal Fire has increased its workforce by 200 to fight the Thompson Fire. A total of 2,219 personnel are working on the mop-up operation, which involves extinguishing or removing burning materials to reduce the risk of wildfires. Alejandro Cholico, public information officer for the Thompson Fire, said the goal is to “wrap up” the operation by July 15.

“It’s looking really good, we’re continuing our cleaning operations and our staff are working diligently with our operators to continue the containment,” he said.

He added that firefighters use work-rest cycles to ensure well-being and avoid heat-related injuries.

The wildfire started shortly before 11 a.m. local time Tuesday. That same afternoon, though unrelated to the Thompson fire, police arrested a 61-year-old Oroville resident who started a fire using a propane torch. He was later arrested for illegally starting a wildfire. The cause of the Thompson fire remains under investigation.