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Butler Fire Fully Contained

By News Staff Member
Tuesday, September 4, 2007

View Alert

Updated 6:50 pm

The Butler Fire is 100% contained and rehabilitation was completed today.

At a glance:

Updated 9:25 am

Firefighters expect full containment of the Butler Fire by 6:00 pm this evening. The area burned remained at 85 acres. Highway 18 is expected to reopen at 7:00 pm, however Forest Roads 2N13 and 2N13C. Butler Peak Lookout, Gray's Peak Group Campground, and Yellow Post campsites in the area will remain closed until further notice.

Monday, September 3, 2007

Updated 5:45 pm

The Butler Fire remains at 85 acres and is 95% contained. Today, minimal precipitation fell on the fire area. Crews made good progress in steep terrain to complete the majority of the containment line. Mop-up operations progressed as well.

SR18 between Snow Valley Ski Area and the Big Bear Dam is expected to reopen at 10:00 pm on Tuesday, September 4.

Due to steep, dangerous terrain, crews will monitor the fire overnight.

Updated 11:30 am

Higher than average temperatures are expected with thunderstorms developing and intensifying into the afternoon. Critically low fuel moisture, steep terrain, and bug-killed timber pose a significant threat to fire behavior and rates of spread.

At 11:30 AM, a field observer reported that there were thunderstorms over the Angeles Oaks, Forest Falls area. Storm activity was building considerably to the north and east of the fire. It was expected that the thunderstorm cell would be over the fire within the hour, producing severe downdrafts, heavy rain, and hail. "This is building considerably faster than it did yesterday," an observer at the Butler Lookout Tower said. Winds were reportedly out of the southwest at six to eight miles per hour. Gusts to ten miles per hour were observed.

The Butler Fire consumed 85 acres and containment was at forty-five percent according a press release Monday morning from the Southern California Interagency Incident Management Team 2. Earlier estimates were that the fire was up to 150 acres. The decrease in size is due to better mapping of the fire. A Sunday morning thunderstorm produced one-half to three-quarters of an inch of precipitation over the fire area. This allowed crews to secure containment lines. Demobilization of dozers and crews began yesterday.

During the night, some tree burning and small areas of ground fire occurred; however, this was all within the containment lines. The fire is burning in timber and chaparral.

State Route 18 remains closed between Snow Valley Ski Resort and the Big Bear Dam. Authorities state that it may not reopen until after the Tuesday evening commute. (Click here for article.)

As of Monday morning, there were no air tankers or dozers assigned to the fire. Three helicopters, fifteen engines, thirteen hand crews, and four water tenders were still committed. Cooperating agencies include the US Forest Service, San Bernardino County Fire Department, CAL FIRE, Big Bear Lake Fire Department, Big Bear City Fire Department, California Highway Patrol, San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, Arrowbear Lake Fire Department, and CalTrans.

First reported on at 12:32 pm Saturday, September 1, the Butler Fire was started by a lightning strike. The fire quickly spread and was pushed downhill, across State Route 18, due to a thunderstorm in the area with extremely strong and erratic winds.

(For the original article and updates through Sunday evening, click here.)