Butte Fire Morning Update...71,780 Acres, 45% Contained, 233 Homes & 175 Outbuildings Destroyed, 4,865 Personnel
Posted by: thepinetree on 09/16/2015 08:15 AM
San Andreas, CA...For the first time the number of personnel attached to the Butte has dropped. Not by much but a good indicator. Acreage held steady and the heat map is quiet. Still lots of work left to do but a Churchill quote may sum it up best. "Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning." Not in the update but the first fatality was removed from a home early last evening. Structures lost held steady, but some we have spoken with say that number may still rise, we hope not. A link to today's map is below as is the full update....
CalFire Unit Chief talks to TuolCo Board about Butte Fire ~ By Jim Garaventa
Posted by: thepinetree on 09/16/2015 08:32 AM
Sonora, CA...Video of CalFire's Josh White talking at the 9/15 Tuolumne Supervisors meeting updating them on the Butte Fire with some comparisons to the Rim Fire as well.
Butte Fire Evening Update...71,780 Acres, 47% Contained, 233 Homes & 175 Outbuildings Destroyed, 4,885 Personnel, Fatalities 2
Posted by: thepinetree on 09/16/2015 11:23 PM
San Andreas, CA...Today the opening of roads and allowing people back into many of the burned areas in the fire perimeter accelerated. Late this afternoon we checked in the Coroners office and fatalities are holding at two. The one off of Jesus Maria that we reported yesterday and the recovery of another fire victim today. Fire behavior remained minimal throughout the night helping crews continue to progress with perimeter control. The evacuations in Amador County have been reduced to an advisory, allowing residents to return to their homes. ***Damage Assessment teams have arrived and started evaluations of damaged and destroyed structures*** Road Closures: (Calaveras County) SR 26 from Mokelumne Hill to Ridge Road; Ridge Road closed to Railroad Flat Road; Railroad Flat Road closed to Mountain Ranch Road; Mountain Ranch Road closed to Hwy 49; Michel Road is closed. Additional Road Closures: Mountain Ranch Road East of Willow Creek Sheep Ranch Road at Fricot City Road Sheep Ranch Road at Mountain Ranch Road Railroad Ranch Road at Jesus Maria Swiss Ranch Road at Railroad Flat Road Jesus Maria Road at SR 26
San Andreas, CA...On behalf of CAL FIRE Incident Management Team I, public safety is our main concern. As mandatory evacuations are being lifted throughout the affected fire areas, we want to remind the public that a safety advisory in still in effect. As residents return back into their homes, please be advised that an active fire still exists in the area and remain alert to any changes in fire conditions. Please use caution as emergency vehicles and personnel are still in the area.
Butte Fire Evening Update...71,780 Acres, 40% Contained, 233 Homes & 175 Outbuildings Destroyed, 4,961 Personnel
Posted by: thepinetree on 09/15/2015 09:48 PM
San Andreas, CA...The Good News is containment of the Butte Fire has climbed to 40%. All restrictions in Amador County have been lifted. The Bad News is that the number of homes lost has climbed yet again to 233. The numbers have soared as the inspection teams make their way through the fire area. Fire behavior remained minimal throughout the day helping crews continue to progress with perimeter control. The evacuations in Amador County have been reduced to an advisory, allowing residents to return to their homes. ***Damage Assessment teams have arrived and started evaluations of damaged and destroyed structures*** Road Closures: (Calaveras County) SR 26 from Mokelumne Hill to Ridge Road; Ridge Road closed to Railroad Flat Road; Railroad Flat Road closed to Mountain Ranch Road; Mountain Ranch Road closed to Hwy 49; Michel Road is closed.
Above is a heat map of the Butte Fire area. Or better yet, lack of heat.
Butte Fire Explodes To 4,000 Acres, 42 Engines, 4 Water Tenders, 12 Fire Crews, 3 Helicopters, 14 Bulldozers, 6 Air Tankers
Posted by: thepinetree on 09/10/2015 01:17 AM
Jackson/Mokelumne Hill, CA...Fire is burning in the Mokelumne River drainage as well as south of hwy 26 towards the Calaveras River Drainage. Fire is burning in multiple directions due to local wind patterns and topography. Amador- El Dorado CAL FIRE is being assisted by the Sacramento Regional Type III Incident Management Team. A CAL FIRE Type I incident management team has been ordered.
A couple of photos I took early evening tonight along our ranch. Butte Fire 1 is looking north from Esmeralda Road in Murphys; Butte Fire 2 is looking north on Sheep Ranch Road in Murphys near Mercer Caverns. Best, Michele Rugo
Sutter Creek, CA – Amador County Public Health advises community members that because of smoke from the Butte Fire air quality may be unsafe. Those with chronic health conditions, young children, pregnant women and elderly adults should especially be aware and take protective measures.
Calaveras Unified School Closures Due To Butte Fire
Posted by: thepinetree on 09/10/2015 01:38 AM
San Andrea, CA...Due to the fire off highway 26 and the resulting power outages, school will not be in session on Thursday at Mokelumne Hill, West Point, and Rail Road Flat Elementary Schools. Bus routes in those areas will not be operating so Toyon Middle School and Calaveras High School students from those areas will be impacted. We plan to resume operations Friday at those sites closed today.
Sonora, CA....Firefighters are making good progress on the Oak Fire. It has reached 50% containment. Let's hope that as temps heat up today the fire behaves. The first morning update is enclosed...
Butte Fire Now At 50 Acres Additional Resources Still Inbound
Posted by: thepinetree on 09/09/2015 04:45 PM
Jackson, CA....Initial acreage reports have the Butte Fire at 50 acres. Smoke output is still on the rise so this will probably grown larger. Lots of resources on ground and air are working protecting threatened structures in the fire area and also trying to keep one of the two fires making up the Butte Fire from growing within the Mokelumne River Drainage.
