California city cancels July Fourth fireworks as firefighters battle flames

A plane drops retardant on a hillside during the Sharp Fire in Simi Valley, California (Eric Thayer/AP)

Officials in a Northern California community cancelled an annual Fourth of July fireworks celebration as an estimated 26,000 residents remained displaced by a growing wildfire.

The Thompson Fire broke out before noon on Tuesday about 70 miles (110 kilometres) north of Sacramento, near the city of Oroville in Butte County.