The Campfire reportedly started Thursday morning just after 6:30 am, and within six hours, it had grown to more than 26 square miles. As of late Thursday evening, it had charred more than 20,000 acres and is raging out of control with 0% containment in Butte County California just east of Chico.
Fire officials said the flames were being fueled by winds, low humidity, dry air, and severely parched brush and ground from months without rain. Firefighters continue to be challenged with extreme fire and weather conditions including strong winds and with long range spotting.
Cal-Fire officials are reporting that the wind-whipped wildfire destroyed thousands of structures and that an exact count will not be known until they can get back into the area.
Acting California Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency for the fire-stricken area in Northern California.
Officials are sending as many firefighters as possible into the area as the inferno approaches the outskirts of the town of Chico. Current reports are that 2300 fire personnel and more than 300 fire engines are assigned to the massive blaze.
As of 1:00 am Friday (this) morning, areas around the eastern edge of the City of Chico received evacuation notices. Firefighters continue to actively engage the fire in order to protect life and property, and the Chico Police Department has alerted residents in the affected areas.
Earlier in the day, thick gray smoke and ash filled the sky above Paradise and could be seen from miles away. The town of about 27,000 people was evacuated.
At the hospital in Paradise, more than 60 patients were evacuated to other facilities and some buildings caught fire and were damaged. Some of the patients were initially turned around during their evacuation because of gridlocked traffic and later airlifted to other hospitals, along with staff. Four hospital employees were briefly trapped in the basement and rescued by California Highway Patrol officers.
There are reports that the Hospital, the High School and other structures in the town of Paradise have been completely destroyed. Reports from a fire official said the Northern California town of Paradise was ‘wiped out’ by the Butte County wildfire.
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