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Photos: Thompson fire north of Sacramento forces thousands to evacuate

A helicopter drops water on flames at night.
A night-flying helicopter drops water on the Thompson fire in Oroville.
(Ethan Swope / Associated Press)
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Firefighters are battling a growing wildfire in Northern California that has forced at least 13,000 people to evacuate with another day of extreme heat expected.

The Thompson fire sent up a huge plume of smoke and grew to nearly 5 square miles by Wednesday morning.

It broke out Tuesday about 70 miles north of Sacramento, in and around Oroville.

Flames engulf a home during the Thompson fire in Oroville.
(Josh Edelson / AFP/Getty Images)

Flames engulf a home Tuesday in Oroville.

A women runs while cars evacuate from the Thompson fire in Oroville.
(Ethan Swope / Associated Press)
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A woman runs while cars evacuate near Oroville.

A firefighting crew sprays water on the Thompson fire in Oroville.
(Ethan Swope / Associated Press)

A firefighting crew sprays water.

As California braces for a heat wave expected to last through next week, several wildfires have ignited under critical fire conditions, forcing evacuations.

An air tanker drops retardant while battling the Thompson fire in Oroville.
(Noah Berger / Associated Press)

An air tanker drops retardant.

A firetruck passes as the Thompson fire burns in Oroville.
(Ethan Swope / Associated Press)

The Thompson fire sends a plume of smoke over Oroville.

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