EVACUATION LIFTED AS CREWS BATTLE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA WILDFIRE AMID CONTINUED THREATS

Thousands of residents evacuated due to a wildfire in Northern California were allowed to return home on Thursday afternoon, while firefighters continued to battle the flames amid intense heat. Officials reported that containment of the Thompson Fire near Oroville in Butte County had increased to 29% from 7%.

The majority of the 17,000 people initially under evacuation orders or warnings were able to return home. The blaze, which began on Tuesday morning about 70 miles north of Sacramento, had grown to 5.9 square miles by Thursday, amid temperatures forecasted to reach 108 degrees Fahrenheit (42 degrees Celsius), with hotter weather expected in the coming days.

"The winds are slowly picking up," said Chris Peterson, information officer for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire. "You add that with the heat and low humidity," and the potential for volatile fire behavior grows.

Four structures were destroyed and more than 12,000 others were threatened during the Northern California wildfire near Oroville. Cal Fire did not specify whether the destroyed structures were homes, although an Associated Press photographer witnessed three suburban-style homes burning in Oroville.

Four firefighters suffered injuries related to heat during the firefighting efforts, while the cause of the blaze remained under investigation.

The area has experienced significant disasters in recent years. The deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California's history devastated the town of Paradise in Butte County in 2018. Additionally, in 2017, the Oroville Dam, the tallest dam in the United States, experienced failures in both spillways, leading to the evacuation of nearly 200,000 people.

"We do it 'well,' I guess, is the word to say," said Oroville Mayor David Pittman.

Residents of Oroville, numbering 20,000, responded to evacuation warnings by offering shelter and home-cooked meals to evacuees, demonstrating a strong community spirit amidst the wildfire crisis.

Across the United States, including California, millions of people are experiencing a severe heat wave. The office of California Governor Gavin Newsom noted that the state is currently facing significantly higher wildfire activity compared to recent years.

( with input from agencies)