6 Homes Destroyed By Butte Fire In Amador And Calaveras Counties
AMADOR COUNTY (CBS13) - A Cal Fire spokesperson says that six homes and two outbuildings have been destroyed by the Butte Fire.
Firefighters are up against steep terrain and record-high temperatures in Amador and Calaveras County Thursday as they battle the Butte Fire, which has charred 4,000 acres and is spreading in all directions.
The fire started at 2:26 p.m. Wednesday. It is burning off Butte County road, east of Jackson and is 20 percent contained, according to the Cal Fire incident page.
State Road 25 and Highway 49 are closed at Mokelumne Hill east to Ridge Road. State Road 26 is closed at Robinson Ranch. And State Road 26 is closed at Jesus Maria. Clinton Road is also closed.
Evacuation orders are in effect for the following areas:
Calaveras County
- Boston Yale Subdivision from East SR26 to Ponderosa Way
- Easy Bird Road
- Sierra Lane
- Thadeous Court
Amador County
- Canyon View Road
- Fig Tree Lane
- Ponderosa Way
Evacuations warnings are in effect in Mokelumne Hill in Calaveras County. In Amador County, the subdivision of Clinton Bar and surrounding area (East of Ponderosa Way, South of Tabeau Rd, and West of Roaring Camp Rd.) are under an evacuation warning.
In Amador County, an evacuation center has been set up at Jackson Rancheria Hotel, in conjunction with Red Cross. In Calaveras County, evacuation centers have been set up at San Andreas Town Hall and Calaveras County Fairgrounds in Angels Camp.
Large animal and pet Shelters in Calaveras County have been set up at Calaveras County Fairgrounds. In Amador County, a large animal shelter is set up at Amador County Fairgrounds. People are being asked to contact Kelly Reason at 530-647-1479 for details.
The fire jumped the Mokelumne River overnight and entered Calaveras County. It had knocked out power to 17,000 PG&E customers.
"All of a sudden we turned around a corner, and this big plume of smoke, and I said 'That looks like that's in my direction.' Down the hill I come and sure enough, it's in my backyard," said Mike Gillam, a Butte Fire evacuee.
Cal Fire air tankers are hitting the fire hard.
