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The approximately 11,800-acre Oroville Wildlife Area is primarily riparian woodland habitat along the Feather River and grasslands around the Thermalito Afterbay
and black crappie) can be found in the numerous dredger ponds and the Thermalito Afterbay
and striped bass can be found in the Feather River
Wildlife species seen in the area include coyote
and fair populations of squirrel and rabbit
call the area at (530) 538-2236 or the North Central Region Rancho Cordova office at (916) 358-2900
Hours: Public entry to the wildlife area is allowed from 1 1/2 hours before sunrise to 1 hour after sunset
The Rabe Road shooting range is closed for cleanup on the last Thursday of each month with the exception of the November and December holidays
It is closed on November 21 and December 26
Dates are subject to change and additional closures may be necessary
Otherwise the range is open daily from sunrise to sunset for rifles
Camping: Prior to camping on the wildlife area
visitors must obtain a camping permit from the California Highway Patrol office located at 2072 3rd Street
Camping and trailers are allowed in designated campsites only for active permit holders
Camping shall be permitted to not more than seven (7) consecutive days
and not more than fourteen (14) days total in any calendar year
cooking is allowed only in portable gas stoves
For motel information, contact the Oroville Chamber of Commerce at (530) 538-2542
does not require the purchase of a hunting pass for entry
Entry permits and/or passes or special drawing may be required for hunting on some Type C wildlife areas
Hunting is on the uplands and Thermalito Afterbay
The forebay is owned by the Department of Parks and Recreation and is part of the Lake Oroville State Recreation Area
Oroville Wildlife Area is closed to hunting from February 1 through August 31 except during the spring turkey season when only turkeys may be hunted through a special drawing
Turkey: There is a drawing for the 1st, 3rd, and 5th weekends and the 1st, 3rd, and 5th Wednesdays of the spring season. Apply through the Special Hunts Online Registration System
Waterfowl: Thermalito Afterbay has scull boat and decoy opportunities
The dredger ponds offer decoy and jump shooting mainly in late season
Wildlife abounded and some of the earliest explorers were fur trappers
The river alluvium was worked by miners from 1848 to 1857
and grasslands in the adjoining alluvial fans made it suitable for livestock grazing
Permanent agriculture with small orchards and irrigated pastures developed until 1898 when gold dredging operations began
leaving the land unusable except for small amounts of fishing and hunting afforded by the ponds and their riparian edges
Two important diversions were constructed on what is now the wildlife area
and then removed when construction of the Oroville Dam eliminated the need for them
Materials removal for construction of the dam began in 1963
Department biologists were influential in preserving wildlife values and creating habitat with potential value such as ponds
the property was designated as a wildlife area by the Fish and Game Commission
Low water conditions shown at Lake Oroville in Butte County
Thanks to recent rain showers in the valley and feet of snowfall in the Sierra mountains
water levels at Lake Oroville have risen enough to reopen the Bidwell Canyon concrete boat ramp
The California Department of Parks and Recreation (State Parks) has provided a floating dock for users at the ramp along with portable restroom facilities
Both the Lime Saddle and Bidwell Canyon marinas are open from 8 a.m
until sundown with shuttle service and boat rentals available
Paved boat ramps are also available at the Thermalito Afterbay and the Thermalito South Forebay
With approximately 11,800-acres of forested upland and riparian habitat along the Feather River and around the Thermalito Afterbay, the Oroville Wildlife Area is open for hunting with most hunters pursuing waterfowl at the Afterbay
Some interior ponds have also filled with enough water to permit duck hunting
while upland hunters have had success harvesting quail
California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) will draw permits for special turkey hunt opportunities including the Junior Hunt weekend
and fifth weekends and Wednesdays of the spring season
Turkey hunting is not permitted in the fall at the Oroville Wildlife Area
Oroville Wildlife Area is a “Type C” wildlife area (hunting pass not required) and is open for hunting seven days a week with entry hours limited from 1.5 hours before sunrise to one hour after sunset
No rifles or pistols may be used or possessed on the wildlife area except at the designated shooting range (Rabe Rd
Shooting Range off Larkin Rd.; open seven days a week from sunrise to sunset)
Lead ammunition cannot be used while hunting in California.
Even with the Northern Sierra snowpack measuring 180 percent of normal as of Dec
the Department of Water Resources (DWR) is reminding the public of ongoing drought conditions throughout California
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is predicting a La Niña winter with dry conditions in Southern California and equal chances of wet or dry conditions in central and northern parts of the state
Early snow totals are only helpful if they translate into runoff into the state's streams
particularly in the spring and summer months
Vegetation Management Activities Continue in Oroville Area
DWR continues vegetation management and debris cleanup activities around the Feather River Fish Hatchery to remove overgrown ladder fuels and create a more wildfire resilient landscape
and the California Conservation Corps (CCC) Butte Fire Center continue pile burning activities in the Loafer Creek area and along Oro Dam Boulevard East near the Hyatt Powerplant
the CCC Chico crew will be cutting and piling material along Canyon Drive to reduce overgrown vegetation near the community of Kelly Ridge
Vegetation management activities will continue through the winter
Smoke from pile burning activities will continue to be visible in the Oroville area
DWR’s Fuel Load Management Plan (FLMP) works to reduce wildfire risk and increase public safety around Lake Oroville
Previous FLMP projects in the Loafer Creek Recreation Area have been identified as contributing to the slowing of the 2020 North Complex Fire as it approached Kelly Ridge
increasing firefighters’ ability to establish a secure fire line
Ongoing management of this critical area remains a high priority for DWR and local partners
located along the southern shore of Lake Oroville east of the Oroville Dam
is one of the major attractions in the Lake Oroville State Recreation Area
It’s a popular fishing and day use area as well as a base for many boaters
The location has drinking water; eight flush toilets (two are ADA accessible); a grey water sump; boat ramps at high
and low reservoir levels; a telephone; a visitor information station; a full-service marina; and a fish cleaning station
Bidwell Canyon Campground has 75 campsites for either tents or RVs
Nearby hiking trails include the 4.9-mile Bidwell Canyon Trail and the Wyk Island Trail
The Lake Oroville Visitor Center is open Tuesday through Thursday from 9 a.m
and offers visitors numerous educational exhibits
a theater featuring videos about the building of Oroville Dam
and a 47-foot-tall observation tower providing unsurpassed panoramic views of Lake Oroville
known as the smallest mountain range in the world
DWR and State Parks maintain over 92 miles of trails in the Oroville area. Trails and their permitted uses (hike, bike, horse, multi), day use areas, boat ramps, and other recreation facilities are featured on DWR’s interactive Lake Oroville Recreation webpage
Oroville’s reservoir is about 669 feet elevation and storage is approximately 1.03 million acre-feet (MAF)
which is 29 percent of its total capacity and 57 percent of the historical average
Temperatures for the coming week will vary between the mid-50s and low-60s
with a slight dip into the 40s possible this Monday
The Feather River releases are currently at 950 cubic feet per second (cfs)
Flows through the City of Oroville are 650 cfs with 300 cfs released from the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet (Outlet) for a total of 950 cfs downstream of the Outlet
DWR continues to assess releases to the Feather River daily
The public can track precipitation, snow, reservoir levels, and more at the California Data Exchange Center
The Lake Oroville gage station is identified as “ORO”
Aerial of Lake Oroville and main spillway in January 2019
Reopening Additional Area at Thermalito Diversion Pool
During the recovery from the 2017 Oroville Spillways Incident
the exclusion zone and buoy line in the Thermalito Diversion Pool below Oroville Dam was temporarily extended approximately one-half-mile downstream. This week
the exclusion zone has been reduced and the buoy line moved back upstream to its historical location just below the spillway
reopening additional area for public access.
The Thermalito Diversion Pool provides opportunity for non-motorized water sports including kayaking
A car-top boat launch is available off of Cherokee Road. The upper end of the Diversion Pool near the spillway and dam
while open for fishing from the southern shoreline
Access to this area is available from the Brad Freeman Trail as well as from the new parking area off Oro Powerhouse Road (Oroville Dam Boulevard East towards Kelly Ridge
turn onto Oro Powerhouse Road and make immediate left before reaching the Hyatt Powerplant entrance gate)
Water Wednesday Focus on the Feather River Watershed
The Department of Water Resources (DWR) Water Wednesday program just completed a series of episodes on watershed health
including a focus on the Feather River watershed that drains into Lake Oroville
Four February episodes discussed how a watershed works; wildfire impacts on watersheds and water quality; how DWR staff work to protect sensitive environments and species; and the anticipated impacts climate change may have on California’s watersheds
Water Wednesday episodes, started in 2020 to provide online education to students, cover a wide range of ‘water-oriented’ topics of interest to many viewers and are available on DWR’s YouTube page at https://www.youtube.com/user/calwater
The Lake Oroville State Recreation Area (LOSRA) campgrounds at Bidwell Canyon
Loafer Creek – including the Equestrian Campground
Reservation capability does not open until April and camping sites will be allocated on a ‘first come-first serve’ basis
The Potters Ravine and North Fork trails are open for use
California Department of Parks and Recreation (CA Parks) encourages users to remain on the trails
Assessments by CA Parks staff of trail safety are ongoing
All day use facilities at Lake Oroville State Recreation Area (LOSRA) are open
The Lake Oroville Visitor Center remains closed
Bidwell Canyon and Lime Saddle boat ramps are open 24-hours per day and the Spillway boat ramp is open from 6 a.m
The Lake Oroville Marina at Lime Saddle is open 8 a.m
and the Bidwell Canyon Marina is open 7 a.m
The Loafer Creek boat ramps remain out of the water
The Loafer Point Boat Ramp area is still closed for construction which is anticipated to be completed this spring
A nesting pair of bald eagles that lost their nest tree in the North Complex Fire have returned
Environmental scientists with DWR have located a newly built nest in an undamaged tree within their territory and observed nesting activity on the new nest by the pair
Lake Oroville and the Feather River area provide ideal habitat for bald eagles
Fish are one of the eagles’ main food sources and large water bodies like Lake Oroville provide a wide variety of fish as well as other favorite food sources such as waterfowl
The many trees and snags (tall dead trees) near water areas provide prime nesting
Protecting the area’s year-round bald eagle population living in the DWR Oroville-Thermalito Complex jurisdiction is the responsibility of the Oroville Field Division’s Environmental Scientists
The bald eagle is a protected species under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 and Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act of 1940
They were listed as an endangered species in 1978
act against threats such as public intrusions
or other impacts to the eagles’ nesting areas
The elevation of Oroville’s reservoir is about 713 feet elevation and storage is about 1.35 million acre-feet - 38 percent full and 54 percent of historical average. Currently
at 49 percent of normal for this time of year and snowpack is also below average at 61 percent of normal
A break in the rain this weekend with continuing chance of rain and colder temperatures in the early part of the week of March 8
The total releases to the Feather River are 1,050 cubic feet per second (cfs) to conserve storage in Lake Oroville. The Feather River flows will consist of 800 cfs down the Low Flow Channel through the City of Oroville
and 250 cfs from the Thermalito Afterbay Outlet (Outlet) for a total of 1,050 cfs for the Feather River’s high flow channel downstream of the Outlet
Join us for a 12-hour food drive Friday, 6am to 6pm, in Redding or Chico. Help stuff a RABA or B-Line bus at Les Schwab with food donations!
LIVE UPDATESUpdate: Cal Fire stops Old Fire burning east of Oroville on Mondayby Adam Robinson
— Cal Fire says the fire burning off of Old Olive Highway
has been contained after burning a half-acre
The fire's cause has not been determined
Cal Fire says their crews will continue patrolling this fire for hotspots
— Cal Fire says firefighters have stopped forward spread of the half-acre vegetation fire burning off of Old Olive Highway
Cal Fire's Butte Unit officials say their crews will remain committed to the fire
The cause of the fire has not been announced
— Cal Fire says firefighters are currently at the scene of a vegetation fire burning off of Old Olive Highway
Officials with Cal Fire's Butte Unit say the fire
called the "Old Fire," is burning around a half-acre at a slow rate of spread off of Old Olive Highway
They say crews are making good progress on and holding the fire to Old Olive
The cause of the fire has not been determined
— Firefighters are currently responding to a vegetation fire burning east of Oroville
Officials with Cal Fire's Butte Unit say there's a vegetation fire burning off of Old Olive Highway
The size and cause of the fire have not yet been determined
To report errors or issues with this article please email the editorial team
The most concerning blaze Wednesday was the Thompson fire burning in the city of Oroville in Butte County
where several structures were destroyed and thousands evacuated as flames pushed closer to communities
A brush fire was also threatening homes in Lower Lake
Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency for the Thompson fire on Wednesday, noting that it was threatening “structures, homes, critical infrastructure, and health and congregate care facilities.”
“We are using every available tool to tackle this fire and will continue to work closely with our local and federal partners to support impacted communities,” Newsom said in a statement.
The Thompson fire tripled in size overnight from 1,000 acres to more than 3,500 acres Wednesday afternoon and was at 7% containment by Wednesday evening, according to officials with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. The blaze was spreading in two directions: north into more rural territory and south toward additional homes and businesses. More than 1,400 personnel were working on the blaze.
Eight firefighters have been injured. Four sustained minor heat-related injuries Tuesday, and one suffered an unspecified injury on the fireline Wednesday, said Rick Carhart, a public information officer with Cal Fire’s Butte County unit. Three firefighters were hospitalized Wednesday morning after their fire engine crashed: two with minor injuries and one with moderate injuries, he said.
The winds from the north have continued to push the flames toward Kelly Ridge, a heavily populated neighborhood east of Lake Oroville where most of the evacuees live, Carhart said.
Among them were Don and Linda Pederson, who said they wouldn’t be run out by the latest fire to encroach on their property.
“It’s not the first time this has happened,” said Don, 81.
But it’s the closest a fire has come to their home of 50 years, which sits on an acre lot east of Oroville Dam that’s been in Linda’s family since 1945. He said he thinks the fire, at its closest, was about a mile away, but that they don’t plan to evacuate unless it crosses Highway 162.
The Pedersons’ home is in an evacuation warning area, although he said the fire map puts his garage squarely in the mandatory evacuation zone.
“The line goes through my house,” he said with a chuckle. “Even if our whole house was in the evacuation zone, we would not leave unless I knew it was on our side of the road and coming down the hill.” He added that they have power and, as a backup, a whole-house generator.
“Yesterday, I could actually see flames in the distance,” he said. “We did not evacuate, even though they have law enforcement going up and down the street with loudspeakers and going door-to-door saying, ‘Get out.’ But we chose to stay.”
He said he was currently monitoring the fire with his wife, Linda, 79, from inside their home, with a few essential papers set aside in case they need to leave quickly. Their lot is mowed down to create a defensive space to ward off traveling embers, he said, and their two vehicles are parked away from their home in case it catches fire. There are two fire hydrants next to their property.
“The breeze is not real strong, but it is picking up right now,” he said. “And I have seen quite of bit of smoke.”
Initially, the Feather River halted the fire’s progress to the south from where it started at Cherokee Road and Thompson Flat Road, but as the fire grew in strength, it managed to jump the river.
“This fire burned in a mixture of both grass and heavy brush,” Carhart said. “The fire [spread] across by flying embers that flew across the water and then landed on the other side.”
The combination of grass, which burns quickly, and brush, which stokes longer flame lengths — helping to throw embers ahead of the flame front — contributed to the quick and early growth of the fire, Carhart said.
Officials say that, at one point, about 12,000 homes, businesses and other buildings were threatened, and 28,000 people were told to leave their homes. That was before some evacuation orders were downgraded to warnings Wednesday evening, Carhart said, although an updated tally wasn’t immediately available.
California
High temperatures and dried vegetation are creating difficult conditions for firefighters across California
“Incidentally, there are a number of people in the area that moved [to Kelly Ridge] after getting burned out at the Camp fire,” Carhart said, referring to the 2018 fire that killed 85 people and destroyed more than 18,000 buildings, the deadliest and most destructive wildfire on record in California.
On Wednesday, the Thompson fire was burning near a dense area of housing, which added an additional layer of challenges, Carhart said. Many firefighters were pulled to structure protection — staging in driveways to make sure embers didn’t ignite homes.
Crews have been fighting the fire under excessive-heat and red-flag warnings.
With California’s grueling heat wave, temperatures were forecast to reach up to 113 degrees Thursday and top out on Saturday at 114 in Oroville. Winds gusts Wednesday were around 15 to 20 miles per hour near the fire.
The relative humidity around the fire Wednesday was below 20%, with overnight recovery expected in the mid-30s to low 40s, according to meteorologist Kate Forrest in the National Weather Service’s Sacramento office.
It’ll start to cool down, relatively, starting Monday, with forecast temperatures between 107 and 109 degrees.
“It is unusual to see heat of this magnitude so early in July with temperatures 10 to 20 degrees higher than normal,” she added.
Hot weather coincides with extreme fire conditions across Northern California
to initiate the first public safety power shutoffs of the year
the region has seen several wildfires ignite
The heat wave could potentially break the record of seven consecutive days of high temperatures above 105 degrees in downtown Sacramento
Daily temperature records could also be broken at Sacramento International Airport and in Redding
high temperatures over the next week in the San Fernando Valley are expected to range from 100 to 108 degrees
while it could reach the low 90s in downtown Los Angeles and around 80 near the beaches
according to weather service meteorologist Mike Wofford
Temperature records for the date could be broken on Friday in Woodland Hills (which has a current July 5 record of 106 degrees)
Los Angeles International Airport (85) and Long Beach (91)
It’s expected to start cooling down Sunday into Monday
but temperatures are still forecast to be in the triple digits in the valleys and in the high 80s in downtown Los Angeles
“This heat wave stands out due to its length,” Wofford added
but this one will stretch on seven or eight days
Record-breaking and dangerous heat is not only hitting California and the West this Fourth of July week, but also broiling the southern Plains and Mid-Atlantic, with 110 million people in 21 states under a heat advisory, watch or warning, the weather service’s Weather Prediction Center said in a Wednesday morning forecast
Much of Northern California remains under a red flag warning — an alert for extreme fire weather — due to a combination of winds up to 30 mph, low humidity and high temperatures that “can contribute to extreme fire behavior,” according to the weather service
The Federal Emergency Management Agency said in a statement Wednesday that it had approved federal funds for assistance in fighting the Thompson fire
Crews in Butte County also fought three separate smaller vegetation fires nearby
the largest of with grew to seven to eight acres before firefighters stopped its spread
“It’s hot and it’s dry and you have to be careful out here because it is very
very easy for fires to start and spread in conditions like this,” he said
“We already have our hands full with a big fire in our unit
and we don’t need a bunch of other smaller fires kicking up.”
Given the conditions across its coverage area, Pacific Gas & Electric Co. initiated its first public safety power shutoffs of the year
affecting just over 2,000 customers across eight counties — Butte
The move is meant to prevent the utility’s equipment from sparking fires during dangerous conditions
In Simi Valley, the Sharp fire ignited around 1:47 p.m
spurring an evacuation order for homes along Ditch Road that was lifted by 6:15 p.m.
public information officer with the Ventura County Fire Department
One firefighter was hospitalized with minor heat-related injuries
mapped at 133 acres as of Wednesday evening
Wednesday in the hills off Sharp Road near Ditch Road in Simi Valley
according to the Ventura County Fire Department
Evacuations were ordered in Lower Lake, in Lake County, after a fire engulfed a commercial building and spread into grass and oak woodland, threatening homes. The Adams fire, which started in the 16200 block of Main Street around 3:09 p.m., was 15 acres and 15% contained as of 5:30 p.m., said Jason Clay, public information officer with Cal Fire’s Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit.
“We have a control line around the perimeter of the fire,” he said, “and firefighters will be on scene for another four or five hours as they’re doing heavy mop-up operations to address hot spots inside the perimeter of the fire.”
Even though the unit had sent three engines to the Thompson fire, it was able to get a handle on the Adams fire with a strong initial attack, in unified command with the Lake County Fire Protection District, he said.
In Napa County, the Toll fire began north of Calistoga just before 10 a.m. Tuesday and grew to about 40 acres, according to Cal Fire.
The wind-driven fire closed at least one road in the area and prompted several evacuation orders and warnings, affecting just over 100 people, according to Clay. By Wednesday evening, crews had managed 40% containment of the fire.
The conditions in the area are ripe for further wildfires to erupt, Clay said. Two consecutive wet winters stoked a heavy grass crop, prompting the National Interagency Coordination Center to last week issue an advisory warning of the potential for rapid fire spread in California’s grass-dominated ecosystems, including deserts and dry valleys where the vegetation usually isn’t sufficient to support fire growth.
“The grasses are really dry,” said Clay, who noted the area’s red flag warning. “That combination is all aligning, [and] that could lead to extreme fire behavior.”
Fire officials have continued to warn that once vegetation fully dries out — typically by midsummer — wildfires could ramp up, given the profusion of grass and brush that grew after two winters with heavy precipitation.
Climate & Environment
California wildfires burned almost 90,000 acres already this year, an amount more than five times the average of pre-summer blazes from the last few years.
In eastern San Diego County, another large fire continued to grow after starting Monday. The McCain fire, burning just off Interstate 8, was 70% contained Wednesday evening, having scorched 1,595 acres, according to Cal Fire. The fire had prompted multiple evacuation orders and warnings, affecting about 140 people, according to Mike Cornette, a fire captain with the San Diego County Cal Fire team.
California’s longest heat wave of the year
The cause of the fire is still under investigation
but Cornette said it was probably sparked by a traffic collision that caused a vehicle to become engulfed in flames
He said about 150 structures were threatened
Two other small fires also sparked Tuesday in Northern California: The Denverton fire in Solano County and the Yolla fire in Shasta County were both less than 30 acres as of Wednesday night
Crews also were still fighting the Basin fire Wednesday, which had burned 13,979 acres in the Sierra National Forest in Fresno County. It was 26% contained, according to Cal Fire.
That blaze is burning not far from the Balch Camp, an isolated community from which more than 150 people were evacuated because of the flames. PG&E has power infrastructure there, but a spokesperson for the utility said none of its facilities had been affected as of Tuesday morning.
Times staff writer Gutierrez reported from Oroville and Toohey, Mejia, Lin and Deng from Los Angeles. Times staff writers Joseph Serna, Rachel Uranga and James Rainey contributed to this report.
Melody Gutierrez is an investigative reporter for the Los Angeles Times. Previously, she covered state government and politics for The Times, the San Francisco Chronicle and the Sacramento Bee. Gutierrez has written award-winning government accountability stories on wasteful spending, pension spiking, rape kit backlogs and failures in the foster care system.
Grace Toohey is a reporter at the Los Angeles Times covering breaking news for the Fast Break Desk. Before joining the newsroom in 2022, she covered criminal justice issues at the Orlando Sentinel and the Advocate in Baton Rouge. Toohey is a Maryland native and proud Terp.
Alex Wigglesworth is a reporter who covers the Inland Empire, Mojave Desert communities and the environment for the Los Angeles Times.
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Print OROVILLE
Calif. — When authorities ordered Brian Wong and his neighbors to evacuate as the Thompson fire bore down on the city of Oroville this week
the restaurant owner knew he couldn’t leave
He had learned from the 2018 Camp fire how things can go wrong for people who can’t defend their property
Oroville is about 20 miles south of Paradise, where the deadliest wildfire in California history killed 85 people and destroyed the Butte County town.
“In the past I wouldn’t hesitate to leave, but I’m hearing a lot of stories about fire victims that were not taken care of in Paradise,” the 53-year-old said. “I’m afraid of leaving my house, leaving my property, and next thing it burns and we get into a complicated mess.
“I’m choosing to stay behind and defend my property if I need to,” he added.
more than 28,000 Butte County residents were under evacuation orders
The Thompson fire had grown to more than 3,500 acres with 0% containment
Four homes had been destroyed and thousands of structures were under threat
a public information officer with Cal Fire’s Butte County station
Carhart said a number of evacuees who lost their homes in the Camp fire were being forced to evacuate once more
Crews battled the blaze — one of several that broke out across the state this week — under excessive heat and red flag warnings
Temperatures were forecast to reach 108 degrees Wednesday
Much of Northern California remains under a red flag warning, an alert for extreme fire weather. A combination of winds up to 30 mph, low humidity and hot temperatures “can contribute to extreme fire behavior,” according to the National Weather Service.
Eight new fires ignited across the state on Tuesday and nine on Wednesday
according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
followed by the Airline fire in San Benito County
which was 1,200 acres and 55% contained Wednesday morning
Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday declared a state of emergency for the Thompson fire, which he said was threatening “structures, homes, critical infrastructure, and health and congregate care facilities.”
The fire broke out just before 11 a.m. Tuesday and is under investigation, with no cause yet determined.
Before there was a spark, there was the wind.
“The conditions out there that are in our county this summer are much different than we’ve experienced the last two summers,” Garrett Sjolund, Cal Fire unit chief in Butte County, said at a news conference Tuesday evening. “The fuels are very dense, the brush is dry, and, as you can see, any wind will move a fire out very quickly.”
Butte County Sheriff Kory L. Honea said during the news conference that there have been four fires within the last couple of weeks, calling this “a bad fire season.”
“I understand that people stay,” Honea said. “If you stay, you need to make sure that you’re paying attention to where the fire is going so that you can get out if necessary.”
The sky was blue in many areas of Oroville on Wednesday, with a limited smell of smoke downtown. Businesses largely remained open, including the Wagon Wheel Market, located along Olive Highway.
Patrick Butler, 56, who runs the market with his brother Tom, said residents have “been through this numerous times.” He used a hose to wet down the store, he said, although there were no visible flames in the area Wednesday morning.
Outside, the air was a little smoky, and the roads were blocked east and west.
“I would imagine we’re under mandatory evacuation, if had to guess,” he said in a brief phone interview. “We have a ton of defensible space. We have a generator, a ton of water here. We will just be here taking care of business.”
The market has been in the Butler family since 1981. Most of those working Wednesday were immediate family members, including his brother, wife, daughter, son-in-law and grandkids, because his employees couldn’t make it through the roadblocks.
As California braces for a heat wave expected to last through next week, several wildfires have ignited under critical fire conditions, forcing evacuations.
That morning, they’d sold more sandwich makings than usual, along with breakfast burritos and water bottles.
“There’s a lot of people within this evacuation zone that we’re open to serve,” he said. “We’ve got a lot of first responders running around who need things.”
Members of the Oroville Chamber of Commerce spent Wednesday morning contacting vendors to let them know that the Fourth of July fireworks celebration had been canceled.
“That’s just been kind of a hometown tradition in our community. But with, obviously, the fire burning right into the city limits, everyone’s just focused on addressing the safety emergency situation,” said Eric Smith, president of the Oroville Chamber of Commerce. “It just wouldn’t be responsible at this point.”
Don and Linda Pederson were determined Wednesday not to be pushed around by the latest fire to encroach on their property.
But it is the closest a fire has come to their home of 50 years, which sits near Oroville Dam on an acre lot that has been in Linda’s family since 1945. Don said he thinks the fire, at its closest, was about a mile away. But he said they don’t plan to evacuate unless it crosses Highway 162, which serves as something of a firebreak.
“Even if our whole house was in the evacuation zone, we would not leave unless I knew it was on our side of the road and coming down the hill,” he said, adding that they have power and, as a backup, a whole-house generator.
The day before, he said, “I could actually see flames in the distance.”
He said he is monitoring the fire with Linda, 79, from inside their home, with a few essential papers set aside in case they need to leave quickly. Their lot has been mowed to create a defensive space and protect against traveling embers. Their two vehicles are parked away from the house in case it caught fire. There are two fire hydrants next to their property.
“The breeze is not real strong, but it is picking up right now,” he said. “And I have seen quite a bit of smoke.”
He added that first responders have been working diligently since the fire broke out.
“Everybody really turned out for this,” he said.
Mike Shorrock, a retired Cal Fire battalion chief in Butte County, has been closely monitoring the flames from his home east of Oroville, just a couple of miles south of the blaze. He speaks in fire language, talking about containment lines, drainage and fire conditions as he feels the familiar tug to return to the job he held for 45 years.
Shorrock’s home is in a mandatory evacuation area, but — at least for now — he said he’s staying put.
“You get sort of in denial when you work in the business, like, ‘Oh, that won’t happen to me,’ but I have lots of friends who lost houses in the Paradise fire,” he said. “I feel comfortable staying because of my experience and sheltering in place to stay and defend. That’s a personal choice everybody has to make.”
Politics
The federal government has launched an investigation into a state agency over concerns it may be enforcing policies that violate federal law.
Seeking to secure the future of vital senior services, Jennifer Fitzthum, appealed to the Tonasket City Council for financial support.
Lake levels were low this winter due to low precipitation, but levels are starting to rise as water is held back for summer.
LIVE UPDATESLatest evacuation information for the North Complexby Austin Herbaugh
Communities east of Oroville remain under evacuation orders as the deadly North Complex Fire continues to burn
The North Complex West Zone is the part of the fire burning in Butte County
15 people have died in the fire and three firefighters have been injured
1,147 buildings have been destroyed with an additional 74 damaged
The entire North Complex is burning across Butte
287,181 acres have burned and the fire is 41 percent contained
The Butte County Sheriff's Office has created an interactive live map with evacuation information
KRCR will be continually updating this page with the latest information from sheriff's officials
The following communities remain under mandatory evacuation orders:
Here is a list of areas under an evacuation warning:
This information is being provided free as part of a public service
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Containment shrinks as fire jumps Lake Oroville9:30 p.m
WednesdayContainment of the North Complex Fire continues to shrink as the fire jumped to the south and west sides of Lake Oroville Wednesday night
Containment is down to 24 percent as the fire crept up to 252,163 acres
The fire had been at 38 percent containment Wednesday morning.
The fire is burning along the east side of South Table Mountain and on both sides of the Feather River northeast of Oroville
Evacuee: 'We always knew this day was coming'7:45 p.m
Wildfires aren’t anything new to Catherine Conrad
The 61-year-old Berry Creek resident said her property is surrounded by the Plumas National Forest
so she practiced preemptive fire safety on her half-acre plot and mobile home
but still we tried to protect our property and clear around,” Conrad said
Conrad is one of thousands who have been evacuated due to the Bear Fire
After seeing a nearby home burning on social media
she spent Tuesday night in her SUV an Oroville park
she left to get gas when she got wind that there might be an evacuation on the way
but by the time she tried to return to grab her things and Siberian husky Nori
the roadway back to her home was blocked off
‘I’m just going to run through (the road block) and they’re going to chase me down,’” she said
a friend had picked up Conrad’s dog on their way out
“I’m going to miss all that stuff at my house,” Conrad said
“There’s 30 years of stuff and pictures and clothes and everything but the truth is I’m alive.”
After also being evacuated for the 2018 Camp Fire
the threat of fire danger could force Conrad away from the community she’s lived in since 1992
“I’m probably not staying in California (considering) the amount of money I spent just to live in an environment that is so unstable,” she said
“I better find another job so I can pay to clean up my house
but I can’t live in the woods anymore.”
Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea confirmed Wednesday that three people have been killed as a result of the Bear Fire
He declined to say where the bodies were found because they have not been identified and family has not been informed
20,000 Butte County residents are under evacuation orders or evacuation warnings
Two thousand structures have been damaged or destroyed while 23,356 structures are threatened in Butte County
Ninety families have been accommodated in shelters and 140 families are waiting to be sheltered
Red Cross is working with local officials to temporarily house people in hotels
Some of the people who evacuated the Bear Fire could soon be on the move again
The Butte County Fairground in Gridley is serving as the county’s main evacuation center
and more than 120 people had come into the outdoor site as of noon Wednesday
the deputy director of emergency services for Glenn County who is in Chico assisting with the response to the North Complex
Red Cross workers are searching nearby counties for hotel rooms for evacuees
“It’s very difficult to find enough hotel rooms
“So (evacuees) are having to travel some distance to be placed in overnight accommodations.”
Travis said the Red Cross is checking for hotels in places in Glenn
Travis said people in RVs or those who can sleep in their cars can stay overnight within the Butte County Fairground
some indoor evacuation centers have provided cots
something less feasible when Butte County has over 2,400 COVID-19 infections
“There’s a nurse on sight at the temporary evacuation point and they’re providing screening for all the evacuees coming in,” Travis said
Incident command center relying on generators after power shut off3 p.m
WednesdayThe incident command center for the North Complex Fire is operating with an extra hurdle after power was shut off to the center
The incident command center is located at the Plumas County Fairgrounds in Quincy
PG&E shut off the power as part of a public safety power shut off.
Officials are working with only generator power
“We had a little bit of warning so we got some generators in
so we are still able to communicate to our crews,” said Bruce Prud’homme
public information officer for California Incident Management Team Four
Plumas County issues a mandatory evacuation order for Bucks Lake area1:40 p.m
Plumas County has issued a mandatory evacuation order for the Bucks Lake area from Highway 162 at the Plumas and Butte county lines east to Bucks Lake Road at Big Creek Road
including Mille Creek Campground and all recreational facilities in the Bucks Lake area
Anyone with shelter needs is asked to contact Plumas Social Services at 530-283-6350
The Butte County Sheriff's Office has created a map showing evacuated communities. It can be found here
A virtual community meeting set for residents impacted by the fire is set for 6 p.m. Wednesday at www.facebook.com/usfsplumas.
Fire officials are having challenges getting accurate readings on the size of the North Complex Fire
according to North Complex Fire Public Information Officer Lisa Cox
Cox said aircraft the monitor the size of the fire have been grounded with mechanical issues and wind
Cox said "there is a threat" to the community of Paradise
An evacuation advisory has been put into effect for Meadow Valley from Bucks Lake Road at Big Creek Road east to Snake Lake Road
as well as Feather River Canyon and the community of Belden
A voluntary evacuation order has been issued for Yuba County due to the threat from the growing North Complex Fire.
The Yuba County Sheriff's Office is calling for a voluntary evacuation of the Oregon House/Dobbins region north of Marysville Road between French Town Road
Indiana Ranch Road and Forsythe Road.
Evacuees are asked to head south to Marsyville
with a staging area at Yuba Sutter Fairgrounds in Yuba City
Multiple foothill communities are under emergency evacuation orders as the North Complex Fire burns between Butte and Plumas Counties
Copley Acres and Brush Creek are under mandatory evacuation orders
The fire has burned more than 254,000 acres between the Plumas County seat of Quincy and is spreading toward the Butte County seat of Oroville
Evacuation centers have been established at:
Mandatory evacuation orders are in effect for:
Evacuees are asked to head south to avoid the fire zone
The North Complex Fire is located on the Mt
Hough Ranger District on the Plumas National Forest
It is comprised of multiple lightning fires -- including the Bear
Sheep and Claremont -- that ignited nearly a month ago during an Aug
There are currently 1,352 personnel battling the blaze of brush
Fire behavior is expected to moderate as winds decrease Wednesday
recreation and environment for Nevada and Lake Tahoe. Reach her at aalonzo@gannett.com or (775) 741-8588. Here's how you can support ongoing coverage and local journalism.
A Mexican national who supervised a drug trafficking organization operating in Oroville
Attorney's Office - Eastern District of Washington
35-year-old Erubey Arciga Medrano of Michoacan
receives 15 years in prison on drug trafficking charges
authorities executed a series of federal search warrants at a number of homes in Okanogan County near Oroville
They discovered 161,000 fentanyl-laced pills
approximately 80 pounds of methamphetamine
"Many of these drugs were destined for Native American communities
including in Eastern Washington and Montana," said Acting United States Attorney Richard Barker
"I am confident that lives were saved as a result of the incredible work that was done in this case."
Medrano also has five years of supervised release after the completion of his prison term
the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) identified Medrano as the leader of a drug trafficking organization flooding portions of the Eastern District of Washington
including Oroville and the Colville Indian Reservation
BIA and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
Washington State law enforcement and Colville Tribal law enforcement conducted a series of controlled drug buys from Medrano and others selling drugs on his behalf
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office - Eastern District of Washington, 35-year-old Erubey Arciga Medrano of Michoacan, Mexico, receives 15 years in prison on drug trafficking charges...\nRead More
Monday morning, the water levels behind the Oroville Dam – just seven miles east Oroville and about 75 miles north of Sacramento – fell another 1.5 feet from the original 3.5 feet Sunday night. But the damaged spillways have led to the evacuation of nearly 200,000
Oroville Dam crisis: What we knowThreat remains at Oroville Dam while water levels drop