Thousands evacuated following Thompson Fire in Northern California – NBC Los Angeles

Thousands of people were ordered to evacuate Butte County in northern California on Wednesday after a wildfire spread rapidly across more than 3,000 acres.

Firefighters are working to protect homes from the Thompson Fire, which started Tuesday near Oroville, about 70 miles (110 kilometers) north of Sacramento, during a week of extreme heat across the state. Several homes have already been destroyed, but no injuries were reported Wednesday morning.

About 13,000 people have been ordered to evacuate.

A state of emergency has been declared in the community of about 20,000. Gov. Gavin Newsom's office announced Tuesday night that federal funds had been approved to help firefighters, who are facing hot, dry conditions.

Temperatures around 100 degrees are expected. Similar weather is forecast for the holiday week in Southern California, increasing the threat of wildfires.

So far this year in California, wildfires have burned nearly 134,000 acres, a staggering increase from the same period last year, when fires burned 7,600 acres, according to Cal Fire estimates.