Oroville’s July 4th fireworks celebration canceled due to Thompson Fire

Oroville’s July 4th fireworks celebration canceled due to Thompson Fire

Contact:
Aaron Wright, Chief of Public Safety
Buttes du Nord district
(530) 538-2200
[email protected]

Lake Oroville Spillway boat launch with the Thompson Fire in the background. Photo by California State Parks.

OROVILLE, Calif. — California State Parks today announced the cancellation of the City of Oroville’s Fourth of July Fireworks Show tomorrow due to public safety concerns. Due to the mass evacuations and damage caused by the Thompson Fire, State Parks and partner agencies, including CAL FIRE, California Highway Patrol, Butte County Sheriff’s Office, Public Works, and City of Oroville staff, have a wealth of resources to protect the community and get everyone home as quickly as possible. These agencies also have employees whose families have been displaced by these evacuations who are tirelessly helping the Lake Oroville community.

All subunits of the Lake Oroville State Recreation Area (SRA) are temporarily closed to allow staff to focus on firefighting and community protection activities. State Parks anticipates that parks, including campgrounds, will remain closed through Friday, July 5. However, this closure may be extended depending on fire conditions.

Here are the temporary closures at Lake Oroville SRA:

• The North Forebay day use area where the fireworks were scheduled. North Forebay is currently being used to coordinate agencies from across the northern part of the state providing assistance to the area.
• Several day-use areas and trails will be closed for an extended period of time while they are repaired and made safe again. These areas include the Burma Day Use Area and several kilometres of the Brad Freeman and Dan Beebe Trails in the Diversion Pool and Lakeland areas.

Donations made to the Oroville Chamber of Commerce for the fireworks will be used for a community fireworks show to be determined by them at a later, safer date. This fireworks show was a specially authorized event by the City of Oroville and the Oroville Chamber of Commerce.

For the latest information on state parks affected by wildfires, visit parks.ca.gov/incidents. For the latest wildfire updates, visit the CAL FIRE webpage at fire.ca.gov.

Top photo: Lake Oroville Dam across from Potter’s Ravine with the Thompson Fire in the background. Bottom photo: Lake Oroville Spillway Trailhead. Photos from California State Parks.

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California State Parks provide health, inspiration and education to Californians by helping to preserve the state’s extraordinary biological diversity, protecting its most valuable natural and cultural resources, and creating high-quality outdoor recreation opportunities.