Thompson Fire | Evacuations downgrade | 9 a.m. update at July 5, 2024

As firefighters continue to make progress in fully extinguishing a Butte County wildfire that prompted evacuations, more residents are being allowed to return home because of reduced evacuation orders. The Thompson Fire, which started around 11 a.m. on July 2 near Cherokee and Thompson Flat Cemetery roads, has injured firefighters, led to thousands being evacuated and destroyed multiple homes. On Wednesday, evacuation orders were reduced to allow some residents in the Cherokee and Oroville areas to return home. The reduction of evacuations continued Thursday when the areas near the Oroville Dam and south of its spillway were given the OK to repopulate.