Butte Complex Fire Reaches 50 Percent Containment

Butte County, CA — The 49,000 acre Butte Lightning Complex Fire effective 6am today has reached 50 percent containment according to Public Information Officer Shawn Sternick.

According to the latest CAL Fire statistics 3,167 personnel are now on hand including 1,437 from CAL Fire.

360 engines, 57 water tenders, 58 dozers and 61 crews are on sight for this blaze that has already destroyed 40 residences with another 10 unconfirmed. Sternick adds that one engine has even arrived from Florda to help fight the fire.

14 of the 41 Complex fire are still considered active in sparsley populated Butte County.

The predicted Thursday evening winds never materialized. The good news; the fire has yet to jump the east side of the west branch of the Feather River. Communities on the west side of the west branch are under an immediate threat of evacuation mode. In addition the area is currently under a “red flag” warning until noon today.

Cost of fighting this fire to date is $42.2 million.

Written by Bill Johnson