News & Columns > News Staff Member > 85-Acre Butler Fire Forty-Five Percent Contained (Update 20)

85-Acre Butler Fire Forty-Five Percent Contained (Update 20)

By News Staff Member
Sunday, September 2, 2007

(For Monday, September 3 Updates - Click Here.)

8:10 pm Update

InciWeb updated the status of the Butler Fire at 8:10 pm. The fire is 85 acres and forty-five percent contained. The decrease in acreage is due to better mapping of the fire. Early today, the east flank of the fire produced significant heat, but by 11:30 am, thunderstorm activity increased dropping ½ to ¾ of an inch of precipitation over the fire area. Crews took advantage of the rainfall and were able to secure containment lines. With significant precipitation today, demobilization of dozers and crews began.

CHP reported that SR18 will remain closed through the Tuesday evening commute. (Click here for article.)

At a glance:

7:20 pm Update

View Alert

InciWeb updated the status of the Butler Fire at 7:00 pm. The fire held at 125 acres and is forty-five percent contained. Early today, the east flank of the fire producted significant heat, but by 11:30 am, thunderstorm activity increased dropping ½ to ¾ of an inch of precipitation over the fire area. Crews took advantage of the rainfall and were able to secure containment lines. With significant precipitation today, demobilization of dozers and crews began.

If winds increase, the fire still has the potential to escape fire lines due to steep terrain.

4:15 PM Update

Many crews were released this afternoon following the heavy rains experienced on the Butler Fire. According to scanner reports, all aircraft except the Air Attack and a helicopter returned to their home bases or were dispatched to other fires in Southern California.

Much of the afternoon's scanner transmissions were establishing needs for tomorrow on the various divisions of the fire.

At this time there has not been an update on acreage or containment.

CalTrans reported that SR18 between Snow Valley and the Big Bear Dam will remain closed through tomorrow, per CHP Dispatch.

2:15 PM Update to evacuated areas only:

Gray's Peak Group Camp and Yellow Post sites in the area have been evacuated.

12:20 PM Update

Fire crews located near the Butler Peak Lookout are "hunkered down" under the trees due to heavy rainfall. The crews were unable to reach their engines before the storm hit. "Rivers of water" are running down the hand lines constructed by the crews according to scanner reports.

New photos below.

State Route 18 will remain closed from Snow Valley to the Big Bear Dam.

Some folks just don't understand what road closed means (Photo by Dave Henderson.)

Command has been transitioned to Ron Woychak's Incident Management Team 2.

Butler Fire Incident Command (Photo by Dave Henderson.)

Fire Fighters getting a little rest and refreshments. (Photo by Dave Henderson.)

11:50 AM Update

Firefighters at the Butler Peak Lookout Tower are watching an active storm cell that is producing rain and lightning south of Big Bear Lake. At least six down strikes have been seen. The cell appears to be moving in the direction of the Lookout Tower. Firefighters will be waiting out the storm in their vehicles in a clearing near the tower.

9:00 AM Update:

InciWeb update states the fire is 125 acres with 5 percent containment. Earlier this morning, the Incident Commander relayed to Dispatch via scanner that there was 15% containment. Five helicopters and six fixed winged aircraft are assigned to the fire as well as 10 engines, 12 hand crews, 6 dozers, 0 water tenders. The fire is burning in steep terrain with a high potential for growth.

Sunday, September 2 - 6:45 AM Update:

According to the Incident Commander this morning, the fire is holding at approximately 125 acres and is 15% contained. The Butler Fire continues to have a large potential for movement to the north and possibly to the east. Firefighters anticipate the fire behavior to be continued torching and short to mid-range spotting due to the fuels in the area. This will cause problems for containment.

There is no threat to the communities of Green Valley Lake or Fawnskin at this time.

State Route 18 will remain closed.

The Butler Peak Lookout will not be staffed today due to fire behavior below.

Command has been transitioned to Ron Woychak's Incident Management Team 2.

Saturday, September 1, 2007

8:00 PM Update: InciWeb has the fire listed at 150 acres with 5% containment. All aircraft have set down for the evening. Air Attack will return to the fire at 7:00 tomorrow morning. The Sheriff's helicopter, 40K, will be flying over in an hour or two to take a look at the fire "with the goggles".

The "Butler Fire" is burning north of the "Arctic Circle" along Highway 18 between Big Bear Dam and Snow Valley. The ground and air attack have made good progress on this fire. First reported around 12:36 PM today, the fire was over 150 acres by 5:30 PM.

The fire was reported to be burning on both sides of Highway 18. The highway has been closed between Big Bear Dam and Snow Valley. Initially, a CalTrans Supervisor stated that the estimated time of reopening SR18 was at least 24 hours. However the Incident Command Post reports that it could be closed through Tuesday. Motorists are advised to use SR38 to Big Bear.

Additionally, Forest Service road 2N13 has been closed between Lake Arrowhead and the Fawnskin area.

View of Butler Fire smoke from Highway 18 in Running Springs. (Photo by PR.)

Earlier, fire officials scrambled to get resources in place to evacuate the Butler Peak Lookout volunteers who reported over the scanner, "we have no way out of here." At 4:45 PM, the forest service road was clear enough for the lookout volunteers to leave the tower. There were also reports of a number of hikers and other civilians in the area.

Multiple engines and hand crews are on scene or staging for the fire. Aircraft had been placed on hold initially due to a thunderstorm in the area, but are now actively working the fire.

Taken from Keller Peak Road at approx 2:30pm. (Photo by Dan Teter.)

Officials state that the fire has the potential to grow to several hundred or several thousand acres. While this is a worse-case scenario and used for planning purposes, it indicates the danger posed by this fire. The cause of the fire is not precisely known, but there were thunderstorms with lightning strikes in the area.