Butler Fire 0% Contained and 500 Acres Burning

Photo of Butler Fire taken yesterday showing the steep terrain.  (Photo from the Northern California Team Two Facebook page.)

The estimate today, Friday, August 2nd, on the Butler fire located about 10 miles east of Somes Bar has jumped another 100 acres overnight. Firefighters are struggling with rugged terrain, falling rock, and remote areas that are difficult to access and have not managed to get any containment at this point.

The incident management team is prioritizing protecting homes beside Hwy 93 and trying to keep the flames contained to the south and west of the Salmon River. Primarily, the fire is burning to the east of Butler Flat which is south of the Salmon River.  There is however a spot fire on the north side that is only about a 1/4 acre so far.

The good news is that the Dance Fire near Orleans is 100% contained and crews are mopping up.  There are still areas of smoldering vegetation that may still produce smoke but the management team is satisfied that there will be no further spreading of the perimeter.

Previously:

• Butler Fire near Somes Bar Burns 400 Acres/Dance Fire 95% Contained 
• Thursday Update with Photos and Video of the Dance Fire
• Dance Fire 90 Percent Contained
• Dance Fire near Orleans up to 650 Acres
• Video of Orleans Fire
• First Photos and Report From Near the Orleans Fire
• Fire Closes Hwy 96 near Orleans-[Evacuations]

The Butler Fire is estimated at 

August 2, 2013, 8:00 a.m.For Immediate ReleaseOrleans Complex, Six Rivers National ForestFire Information 530/618-2101 – (phone line staffed from 8am to 8pm)
The Orleans Complex is comprised of two fires, the Butler Fire (started 8/1) and the Dance Fire (started 7/29). 
Butler Fire Detected: Wednesday, July 31, 10pmCause:  Under InvestigationFuels:  Timber and BrushEstimated Size: 500 acresContainment: 0% Committed Resources: Approximately 126 Structures Damaged or Destroyed: 0
Summary: The Butler Fire, located on the Six Rivers National Forest, is located approximately 10 miles east of Somes Bar, California. Northern California Interagency Team 2 is managing the incident. The following closures are in effect:
Highway 93 (Forks of Salmon Road) is closed at Oak Bottom CampgroundNordheimer Campground is closedThe Salmon River, and land adjacent to the river, is closed between Wooley Creek and Nordheimer Campground
Currently, the fire is burning mostly on the south side of the Salmon River in the remote area east of Butler Flat. A spot fire detected earlier on the north side of the fire is estimated to be about ¼ acre. Challenges to fire fighters include extremely rugged and steep terrain, rock fall and intense fire activity, causing limited accessibility to the fire area. Priorities on the fire are structure protection for the homes along Highway 93 (Forks of Salmon Road) and to keep the fire south and west of the Salmon River.

Dance Fire
Detected: Monday, July 29, 5pmCause:  Under InvestigationFuels:  Timber and BrushEstimated Size: 577 acres (acreage has decreased due to GPS mapping)Containment: 100% Committed Resources: Approximately 471Structures Damaged or Destroyed: 1 home, 2 outbuildings
Mop-up continues around the fire perimeter. The fire is smoldering and creeping within contained islands of heavy vegetation. Visitors and residents will continue to see smoke within the fire perimeter. 

Please see http://www.inciweb.org/incident/3577/# for updates and a map of the Orleans Complex