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Grubbs fire: Northern California battles multiple wildfires, 26,000 evacuated



Evacuation orders for the Grubbs fire in Palermo have been reduced to warnings, according to the county’s evacuation map. The fire ignited off Grubbs Road and Brollier Way in Palermo just before 4 pm (local time) on Wednesday, according to unofficial sources, including the Watch Duty App.
Fire fighters lined roads and helicopters dropped water on the growing wildfire on Wednesday in Northern California, which has forced at least 26,000 people to evacuate.The state is currently experiencing extreme heat. The Grubbs fire is just one of many fire s affecting the region. The Thompson fire , which broke out before noon Tuesday about 70 miles north of Sacramento near Oroville, has grown to more than 5.5 square miles and sent up a huge plume of smoke visible from space. Despite the challenging conditions, Oroville Mayor David Pittman reported a significant drop in fire activity by Wednesday afternoon, expressing hope that some residents could soon return home. However, the fire remains uncontained along its northern edge.
Meanwhile, another fire broke out Wednesday afternoon about 5 miles south of Oroville near Palermo, prompting new evacuations. This fire , named the Grubbs fire , also remains uncontained. Several zones in Butte County are under evacuation warnings, including Zone 867, Zone 868, Zone 866, and Zone 869, according to the Butte County evacuation map.
More than a dozen other wildfire s, mostly small, are active across the state, according to the California Department of Forestry and fire Protection (Cal fire ). A fire in Simi Valley briefly prompted evacuations on Wednesday. The largest blaze, the Basin fire in the Sierra National Forest in eastern Fresno County, covers nearly 22 square miles and is 26% contained.
In Oroville, a state of emergency was declared on Tuesday night, and evacuation centers were established. The evacuation zone expanded into the foothills and rural areas beyond the city. Authorities have also warned that fire works are banned in many areas, including most of Butte County, due to the fire risk.
There have been no immediate reports of property losses. However, an Associated Press photographer saw three suburban-style homes burn in Oroville. fire fighters saved one home as residents watched aircraft make water drops to contain the fire .
The cause of the Grubbs fire is under investigation. Red flag warnings for critical fire weather conditions, including gusty winds and low humidity, were in effect when the fire erupted. The conditions have led Pacific Gas and Electric to implement targeted public safety power shutoffs in parts of some Northern California counties to prevent fire s from being ignited by downed or damaged wires.
Hot conditions with potential triple-digit temperatures are expected to continue into next week. Authorities have warned of full legal consequences for any illegal use of fire works during the Fourth of July holiday.
Governor Gavin Newsom announced late Tuesday that federal funding had been approved to assist with fire fighting efforts. The State Operations Center has been activated to coordinate California’s response, dispatch mutual aid, and support communities as they respond to wildfire and excessive heat threats.
In Southern California, Joshua Tree National Park officials closed Covington Flats on Wednesday due to extreme fire risk. The area is home to important Joshua tree populations, which are at risk due to abundant grass that has dried after spring rains. A June 2023 fire burned 1.6 square miles of Joshua trees and desert tortoise habitat.





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