Firefighters were battling wildfires that erupted across northern California on Tuesday, forcing thousands to evacuate as the region smolders under a prolonged heatwave. About 70 miles (113 kilometers) north of Sacramento, the state capitol, crews working in scorching conditions struggled to contain a wildfire in Butte County that forced the evacuation of about 13,000 people in and around Oroville. The blaze, dubbed the Thompson Fire, broke out before noon and sent up a huge plume of smoke as it swiftly grew to more than 3 square miles (7.7 square kilometers) by evening, with zero containment. Firefighters lined roads, trying to keep the flames from reaching homes as helicopters dropped water on the fast-moving blaze. The governor's office announced late Tuesday that federal funding had been approved to help with firefighting efforts. Earlier this week, Gov. Gavin Newsom activated the State Operations Center to coordinate California's response, dispatch mutual aid and support local communities as they respond to threats of wildfire and excessive heat.