Butte Fire Reaches 74% Containment

Containment on the Butte Fire has grown to 74% and it is 70,760 acres.

Initially the Incident Command estimated that full containment would come this Thursday, but the new projection is October 1st. 545 homes have been destroyed and 356 outbuildings. There are no mandatory evacuations in place, and all roads have been reopened. 3,446 firefighters are assigned to the incident this morning, 269 engines, 34 water tenders, five helicopters, 92 hand crews and 26 dozers. Fire activity remained minimal overnight within the fire perimeter, and mop-up operations will continue this week. Smoke may continue to be visible this week near the fire area.

Students are heading back to class today in Calaveras County. School is back in session for the Bret Harte Union School District, Vallecito School District and Mark Twain Elementary School District. All Calaveras Unified Schools are back in session, with the exception of West Point Elementary and Railroad Flat Elementary, which are slated to start tomorrow.

Community meetings on the Butte Fire are scheduled for this evening at 7pm at the Call Church at 18400 Ridge Road in Pine Grove, and tomorrow at 6pm in Bret Harte High School’s Multi-purpose room at 323 South Main Street in Angels Camp.

 

• Click here to read a rundown of Butte Fire stories from yesterday.
• For Continuing Butte Fire information read September 22nd’s Butte fire news story here.