Butte

Lake Oroville’s Invasive Mussel Prevention Program Is Working. Here’s What Boaters Need to Know.

In welcome news for boaters and anglers across Northern California, Lake Oroville and its surrounding waterways remain free of invasive…

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Chico’s Newest Startup Wants to Guide You Through Upper Bidwell Park

Photo: Chico Beyond Adventure Upper Bidwell Park just got a little more accessible. A new Chico-based company is making it…

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Lake Oroville Cuts Water Releases by 40% as Runoff Slows

Water is slowing down at one of California’s most important reservoirs. State officials say outflows from Lake Oroville have been…

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Here’s Why Water Officials Began Releasing Water Out of Lake Oroville

An eye-catching surge of water pouring down the Oroville Dam spillway this week wasn’t just for show, it was a…

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Lake Oroville Spillway Opened as Storms Push Reservoir Levels Higher

The California Department of Water Resources opened the main spillway at Lake Oroville on Monday as a flood-control measure following…

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Lake Oroville Jumps 23 Feet in Three Days as Storms Dump Heavy Rain

A powerful series of atmospheric river storms continues to dramatically reshape water levels across Northern California, with Lake Oroville seeing…

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Lake Oroville Surges Over 6 Feet in a Day as Powerful Storm Soaks Northern California

A powerful atmospheric river sweeping across Northern California sent water rushing into Lake Oroville over the weekend, causing the reservoir…

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11 Inches of Rain in 24 Hours Sends Water Surging Into Lake Oroville

An intense round of storms delivered staggering rainfall to the Northern Sierra, with up to 11 inches of rain falling…

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More Than 10 Million Chinook Salmon Raised at Feather River Hatchery This Season

Spawning season has wrapped up at the Feather River Fish Hatchery in Oroville, and the numbers point to a major…

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Feather Falls Is Back on the Map for Northern California Hikers

One of Northern California’s most beloved hikes is open again. After years of closure due to wildfire damage, the Feather…

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Lake Oroville Officials Step Up Efforts to Keep Invasive Golden Mussels Out

With invasive golden mussels threatening waterways across California, Lake Oroville officials are ramping up efforts to keep the species out…

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Lake Oroville Starts Seasonal Decline After Historic Peak

After peaking at full capacity earlier this year, Lake Oroville has begun its annual summer decline—a familiar cycle for California’s…

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Lake Oroville Makes History After Reaching Full Capacity for Third Consecutive Year

Lake Oroville has officially reached full capacity for the third consecutive year. It’s the first time the 57-year-old reservoir has…

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Lake Oroville Inches Towards Full Capacity for Third Straight Year

Lake Oroville is just one foot shy of reaching full capacity—an event that would mark the first time in history…

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Lake Oroville Expected to Reach Full Capacity for Third Straight Year

In a major win for drought-weary California, Lake Oroville is projected to hit full capacity this spring, reaching 900 feet…

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California Officials Launch Plan to Keep Invasive Golden Mussels Out of Lake Oroville

With the recent discovery of invasive golden mussels in California waterways, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) is ramping up…

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Lake Oroville Nears Full Capacity as DWR Shifts Focus to Water Conservation

As California moves into the drier summer season, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) has begun scaling back water releases…

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Wildlife Officials Stock Lake Oroville with 24,000 Eagle Lake Rainbow Trout

On March 21, 2025, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) stocked Lake Oroville with 24,000 Eagle Lake Rainbow…

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Lake Oroville Dramatically Increases Water Releases Amid Atmospheric Rivers, Flood Risks

The Department of Water Resources (DWR) has significantly increased flood control releases from Lake Oroville, citing recent heavy rainfall and…

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Chico Man Sentenced to 11 Years for Fire that Destroyed Bidwell Mansion

A Chico man responsible for the devastating fire that destroyed Bidwell Mansion was sentenced to 11 years in state prison…

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More Lake Oroville Trails Reopen Following Thompson Fire Damage

The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) and California State Parks have reopened additional trails around Lake Oroville that were…

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Lake Oroville Water Releases Increased with Plans to Use Spillway Next Week

A drone view of water levels near the Oroville Dam at Lake Oroville, in Butte County, California. Photo taken December…

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Man Arrested in Connection to Arson Fire that Destroyed Chico’s Bidwell Mansion

Authorities have arrested a suspect in connection with the fire that destroyed the iconic Bidwell Mansion in Chico. The mansion,…

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Search for Missing Brothers at Thermalito Afterbay Continues Amidst Challenges

The search continues for brothers Andruw and Wesley Cornett, who went missing during a duck hunting trip at the Thermalito…

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Bidwell Mansion Fire Determined to Be Arson

California State Parks confirmed on Tuesday that the fire which severely damaged the historic Bidwell Mansion in Chico last week…

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Search Continues for Two Missing Brothers at Thermalito Afterbay Near Oroville

Photo via the Butte County Sheriff Search efforts are ongoing for two brothers who went missing at Thermalito Afterbay near…

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Chico’s Historic Bidwell Mansion Destroyed in Late-Night Fire

Photo via California State Parks A devastating fire broke out early Wednesday morning at Bidwell Mansion State Historic Park in…

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Portions of Upper Bidwell Park Reopen as Park Fire Containment Progresses

As containment of the massive Park Fire continues to increase, parts of Upper Bidwell Park in Chico are beginning to…

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Park Fire Explodes to 45,000 Acres in Chico’s Bidwell Park

The Park Fire, which ignited in the Upper Bidwell Park area near Chico, has expanded to 45,549 acres and prompted…

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Two Bridges with the Same Name Tell a Fascinating Story of Northern California’s History

In July 1848, John Bidwell discovered gold in a canyon of the Feather River, leading to the establishment of Bidwell’s…

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A Complete Guide to Bidwell Park – Chico’s Massive Outdoor Utopia

Hot, flat, dry and the most interesting thing to do is drink beer. It’s not a far reach to say…

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Water Officials Continue Significant Lake Oroville Releases Amidst Wet Winter

Lake Oroville is making waves again as the Department of Water Resources (DWR) skillfully manages water releases to keep the…

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Water Releases Increase on Lake Oroville in Anticipation of Coming Storms

Lake Oroville water levels on January 30. Photo by California DWR In anticipation of impending winter storms in Northern California,…

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Lake Oroville Surges to 131 Percent of Historical Average After Recent Storms

Lake Oroville is currently at an elevation of 838 feet, with a storage capacity of approximately 2.65 million acre-feet, according…

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Hikers Rescued Amidst Dense Fog at Phantom Falls

Butte County Search and Rescue embarked on a mission amidst a blanket of dense fog on Sunday night to rescue…

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We Went Searching for the Best Olives in Northern California. Here’s What We Found.

Rarely does Northern California come into the conversation of great olive producing regions, but maybe it should!

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This 38-Pound Rainbow Trout Caught on the Feather River Isn’t a Steelhead. Here’s How We Know.

Photo: Josh Giordano Fisherman Josh Giordano made headlines in 2021 when he landed an estimated 38.2-pound rainbow trout on the…

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New Federal Land Plan Could Make Butte Creek a ‘Wild and Scenic River’

Salmon swimming through Butte Creek in 2021. Photo by Friends of Butte Creek. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has…

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Chinook Salmon Return to Feather River as Hatchery Fish Ladder Opens

As the natural cycle of life unfolds, Chinook salmon are making their triumphant return to the Feather River. Commencing on…

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Lake Oroville Water Levels Hold Strong at 78 Percent, 138 Percent of Historical Average

Lake Oroville’s water level stands at 845 feet elevation as of Friday, with the levels continuing to be closely monitored…

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Watch the World’s Largest Devil’s Toothpaste Explosion in Northern California

Mark Rober ia a former NASA engineer and popular content creator who has amassed over a billion views on YouTube…

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When Will Feather Falls Reopen After Being Blazed By Wildfire?

In the summer of 2020, the North Complex Fire burned through Butte and Plumas counties on its way to becoming…

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Butte Creek Turns Blood Orange After PG&E Canal Failure

Photo by He-Lo Ramirez (via CalTrout) An unsettling sight unfolded on Friday as Butte Creek took on an unexpected hue…

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Lake Oroville is Back at 100% Capacity After Complete Water Transformation

Photo: California Department of Water Resources Lake Oroville, previously a glaring symbol of California’s prolonged megadrought, has made a striking…

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Sleep Under the Stars on the Floating Campsites of Lake Oroville

Photo: TomOwen Camping in Norther California is a pretty straight-forward endeavor. You drive to your campsite, pop your tent, unload…

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Overhead Video Shows a Closed Feather Falls Bursting with Water

After the North Complex Fire burned through the Feather River Canyon, a complete closure of the area was issued, with…

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Before and After Photos Show a Complete Water Transformation at Lake Oroville

In the past few months, Northern California has experienced storms that have brought some relief to the severe drought afflicting…

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Injured Hiker Airlifted Out of Table Mountain Near Phantom Falls

Photo: CalFire CalFire Butte County responded to a report of an injured hiker on Saturday afternoon, airlifting the person from…

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Lake Oroville Flows Increased to Assist in Spring Salmon Releases

The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) has temporarily raised the release of water from Lake Oroville to the Feather…

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Oroville’s Table Mountain Welcomes Spectacular Wildflower Super Bloom

There are a few magnificent destinations to see wildflower blooms in Northern California. The North Table Mountain Ecological Reserve in…

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Officials to Increase Flows Out of the Lake Oroville Spillway Today

Photo: California Department of Water Resources The Department of Water Resources (DWR) continues to make flood control protection releases from…

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The Lake Oroville Spillway Could be Used this Week

The Lake Oroville spillway collapsed when it was used in 2017, forcing the evacuation of 180,000 people. With an atmospheric…

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Officials Attempt to Clean Up Massive Islands of Floating Driftwood in Lake Oroville

Photo via the California Department of Water Resources In Lake Oroville, a massive effort is underway to remove the vast…

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Officials Warn Against Visiting Phantom Falls Right Now

Photo courtesy of CDFW’s George Gilmore After a string of atmospheric rivers drenched Northern California in the months of December…

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Phantom of the Falls: A Great Winter Spectacle

A flowing phantom haunts Table Mountain near Oroville. It disappears during the summer, and remains well hidden in remote Coal Canyon…

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The Great Northern California Taco Trail

Northern California is typically known as a wonderland for outdoor enthusiasts. From Mount Shasta to cascading waterfalls to National Parks…

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The Spawning of Millions of Salmon Begins at the Feather River Hatchery

The annual process of spawning millions of salmon returned to Oroville this week as the Feather River Fish Hatchery began…

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VIDEO: MASSIVE Salmon Gets Airborne on the Sacramento River in Chico

View this post on Instagram Hey @beckmannets !!!! This is how we do it out in #cali !!! @northstatesalmon great…

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How We Witnessed the Filming of Top Gun: Maverick in Northern California

It was a beautiful morning in February 2020 when Brien O’Brien (Bob) and I began our 9-mile hike to Feather…

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NorCal Home Becomes First ‘Wildfire-Prepared Home’ in the U.S.

Photo: Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety Devastating wildfires over the past five years have changed the way we…

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The Wildflower Bloom has Exploded in Oroville’s North Table Mountain

There are a few magnificent destinations to see wildflower blooms in Northern California. The North Table Mountain Ecological Reserve in…

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State Officials Offering $50,000 Reward for Information on Lake Oroville Campground Murder

Lake Oroville at sunset. Photo by Robert Bonnifet. It’s been a year and a half since 20-year-old Tyler Dickson was murdered…

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Video Shows Big Salmon Lying Dead Along the Dried-Up Banks of the Butte Creek

The Chinook salmon of Butte Creek are one of the largest population of spring run salmon left in Northern California.…

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Giant Rainbow Trout Caught on the Feather River was Likely the Largest Ever Caught in California

The likely largest rainbow trout caught in California was released instead of officially weighed. Photo: Josh Giordano A monster rainbow…

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Drone Footage Shows Massive Landslide that Closed Highway 70

Video of landslide as well as other rock slides, debris flows and mudslides along Hwy 70 in Plumas County. #debrisflows…

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Short Film Imagines the Rebuilding of Paradise, California Towards a Bright Future

Wildfires that are growing in scale and ferocity each year. 2021 has been a record year for wildfires in the…

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Feather River Hatchery Seeks To Increase Chinook Salmon Production to Offset Drought Impacts

Alan Sheckter Photography The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) have…

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Winter Ice Rink Coming to Chico Called ‘Slap in the Face’ to Paradise

Ice Rink in Paradise, California For the first time ever, a winter ice skating rink is coming to downtown Chico.…

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See a Fall-Color Explosion in Chico, California

Chico, California is known to many as “The City of Trees.” As the legend goes, John Bidwell used to walk…

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GIANT 40-Pound Chinook Salmon Caught on the Sacramento River

Ryan Tripp is at it again! Some local guides have referred to him as the “Michael Jordan of Fishing” in…

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Salmon-Viewing Kayak Tours on the Feather River Have SOLD OUT

UPDATE: All tours have been sold out! Photo: Explore Butte County With the Chinook salmon once again returning to the…

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This Striking Graphic Shows How Most of the Feather River Watershed Has Burned Over the Past Year

Areas of Butte, Plumas and Lassen counties have been devastated by wildfires in 2020 and 2021. The North Complex Fire…

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Drone Footage Shows a Little Creek Where Lake Oroville Once Stood

The extreme drought in Northern California has been highlighted by the already historic wildfire season experienced throughout the region. While…

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The Grand Canyon of NorCal? Drone Footage Shows Lake Oroville Nearly Empty

The drought continues to have an enormous impact on Northern California. One of the more obvious impacts is the states…

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Report: Butte County’s Dixie Fire May Have Been Sparked by PG&E Equipment

The Dixie Fire quickly grew to 30,000 acres over the weekend near the burn scar of the Camp Fire in…

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Growing Sky Fire Prompts Evacuation Warning in Butte County

Another lightning-caused wildfire is growing in Northern California, forcing some residents of Butte County to be on evacuation alert. The…

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Fire in Upper Bidwell Park Grows to 600 Acres with 25 Percent Containment

Photo: Chico Fire Department A vegetation fire erupted in Chico’s Upper Bidwell Park Thursday night, growing to 600 acres by…

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Best Burger in Chico? A Mouth-Watering Visit to Nobby’s

There’s plenty of debate over who serves the best burger in Chico, California. For our money, it’s got to be…

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Hiker Dies Following 100-Foot Fall at Oroville’s Table Mountain

Hollow Falls. Brooke Stanley/AllTrails A hiker fell 100-feet to their death near Hollow Falls at Oroville’s Table Mountain on Saturday.…

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The Wildflower Bloom Has Arrived in Oroville’s Table Mountain

There are a few magnificent destinations to see wildflower blooms in Northern California. The North Table Mountain Ecological Reserve in…

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Kayakers Go Full Send Off an Overflowing Spillway on the Feather River

Nick Coulter’s at it again, this time trading in his usual cliff jumping shenanigans for an epic kayak trip down…

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Volunteer Mauled by ‘Critically Endangered’ Leopard at Oroville Wildlife Sanctuary

Photo: Barry R. Kirshner Wildlife Sanctuary A volunteer at Oroville’s Barry R. Kirshner Wildlife Sanctuary was hospitalized over the weekend…

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Father-Son Duo Land Two 30-Striped Pound Bass in a Day on the Sacramento River

Photo by Robert Petty The bass fishing on the Sacramento River is on a roll right now with multiple fishing…

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Chico’s Burger Hut Chosen to Receive Support Through Barstool Fund

Barstool Sports is making waves across the country with their Barstool Fund, a program helping small businesses during the pandemic…

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The Fall Spawning of Millions of Salmon on the Feather River is in Full Swing

Alan Sheckter Photography The annual process of spawning millions of salmon is in full swing in Oroville as the Feather…

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Salmon Viewing Kayak Tours Being Offered on the Feather River

Alan Sheckter Photography *Note: The salmon tours have now been sold out, with no announcement of additional tours being offered…

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Wildlife Officials Release Black Bear Burned in the Bear Fire Back into the Wild

Photo: California Department of Fish and Wildlife While the human tragedy caused by the devastating wildfires of Northern California can’t…

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Cal Fire Releases Map Showing the Houses Destroyed in the North Complex Fire

Cal Fire recently released a “damage assessment map” showing the houses burned along the east side of Lake Oroville and…

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North Complex Fire Destroys At Least 2,000 Structures with 22,000 More Threatened

The Bear Fire, which was initially a spot fire from the North Complex Fire that grew into Butte County on…

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Report: Town of Berry Creek ‘Leveled’ by Bear Fire in Butte County

As Northern California residents attempt to make sense of the historic overnight growth of the Bear Fire (part of the…

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Satellite Imagery Suggests the Bear Fire Grew by 250,000 Acres in 24 Hours

As firefighters and rescue officials worked all night to evacuate areas impacted by the wind-fueled Bear Fire (part of the…

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Intense Winds Push Bear Fire Around Lake Oroville as Thousands Flee from the Flames

The Bear Fire/North Complex Fire intensified Tuesday night with fast-moving winds and has been pushed all the way to Lake…

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Feather Falls and Areas Near Oroville Under Mandatory Evacuation Due to Growing Wildfire

Although the North Complex Fire (which includes the Bear and Claremont Fires) has been burning for more than 3 weeks…

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CalFire Identifies 21 Wildfires in Butte County Caused by Lightning

The violent thunderstorms that brought nearly 8,000 lightning strikes to California this weekend moved into Butte County Monday morning, causing…

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What Happened to the Paradise Flumes After the Camp Fire?

When the Camp Fire erupted in November of 2018, the entire town of Paradise was devastated by the deadliest and…

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The Epic 9-Mile Hike to the MASSIVE Feather Falls

Sitting in Butte County is a remote 410-foot waterfall that brings hikers incredible views year-round. The 7-to-9-mile hike on the…

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More Evacuation Warnings Issued in Butte County for “Avacado Fire,” Which Now Sits at 75 Acres

Photo: CalFire Yesterday, the area of Bangor in Butte County received an evacuation warning from the Sunrise Fire, which was…

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UPDATE: Evacuation Warning Lifted in Butte County with Sunrise Fire Reaching 75 Percent Containment

Photo: CalFire Following a long and strenuous from firefighters in Butte County, the Evacaution Warning has been lifted in the…

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Evacuation Warning Issued in Butte County Due to Sunrise Fire

An Evacuation Warning has been issued in areas of Butte County near Bangor as the Sunrise Fire remains difficult to…

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Chico’s Sycamore Pool Opens for the Summer

Instagram/@flyinghorsedesigncom Another summer staple is reopening in Northern California as Chico’s Sycamore Pool is now officially open to the public…

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