Calming Winds Keep Fire Crews in the Fight Against Butte Blaze

By Bobby Caina Calvan and Phillip Reese, The Sacramento Bee, Calif.

Jul. 10–By Bobby Caina Calvan and Phillip Reese

CHICO — Fire crews held their ground overnight against a stubborn Butte County fire that has burned 49,000 acres and continues to threaten 4,800 homes.

Winds overnight were relatively calm compared to the gusts that whipped embers beyond containment lines Tuesday morning.

Firefighters were hoping for the weather to continue to cooperate as they began the 20th day of battling a collection of blazes known as the Butte Lightning Complex, the latest of which is the Camp fire, 20 miles northeast of Oroville and bearing down on the town of Paradise.

However, a “red flag warning” remains in effect, indicating that fire conditions are potentially explosive. Slight cooling is predicted in the next few days, but the warning on through Friday.

“Well, its Groundhog Day folks — we’re going to do it again,” said Cam Todd, the operations chief for the incident, during this morning’s briefing to fire crews. “It’s still a firefight.”

Overnight, crews worked to contain the fire and prevent it from jumping the west branch of the Feather River, where thousands of Paradise homes overlooked flames and plumes of smoke.

Fire engines were parked along the ridge line across the burning flanks of the river to ensure that embers were kept from the homes.

Firefighters were able to keep the blaze contained to the west side of Highway 70, said Mike Mohler, a fire information officer for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

“A lot of progress was made in the Concow area and along the Feather River,” Mohler said.

Fire officials estimate about 50 homes have burned in Concow, but no official count has yet been made because of the ongoing danger.

Residents were being kept away from the burnt-out area, although some have tried to bypass roadblocks.

The fire remains 45 percent contained and crews have put in fire breaks, but some of the them are tenuous, said fire Incident Commander George Morris Jr., of Cal Fire.

“This is a tough fight … we’re going to be here a while,” he said during today’s briefing.

Paradise remains threatened, officials said.

There also has been an increasing push to remind firefighters to remain vigilant for their own personal safety and health. Temperatures again are expected to be well over 100 degrees. The National Weather Service forecasts a high today of 104 degrees in Paradise.

On Wednesday, 10 firefighters were pulled off the line because of dehydration and crews were urged to pace themselves.

Wind gusts are expected to increase Friday.

Northerly winds are forecast between 10 to 15 mph with stronger gusts at 25 to 35 mph through aligned canyons and over ridges tonight and into Friday morning, according to the National Weather Service.

More resources and fire crews were brought in to fight the Camp fire this morning.

Near-record temperatures have made life miserable for firefighters working to contain the complex of lightning-caused fires, and for the thousands of evacuees who fled the flames and crammed into Red Cross shelters.

“People are just shellshocked. It’s been a dramatic effect on their lives,” said Butte County Supervisor Bill Connelly, who spent two hours at one of the shelters Wednesday. “It’s a tear-jerker to be with them.”

An additional 1,000 homes were evacuated Wednesday between the town of Deadwood and the shores of Lake Oroville. That brings the total to 4,800 homes evacuated, including the towns of Concow and Camelot.

The Red Cross expanded its network of shelters in response and is now operating four in Chico and Oroville. Two were full by Wednesday afternoon.

The temperature in Chico peaked at 108 degrees Wednesday, which fell short of the record for the date of 112, set in 1910. But it was plenty hot enough to make the experience that much more unbearable.

“It’s getting old. And my eyes are getting burned out,” said John Felder III, a homeowner near Deadwood Road.

Felder convinced firefighters to let him stay because he had cleared brush and trees around his home to protect it from fire. His 7,200-square-foot home, inherited from his father, is full of handcarved furniture and antique books.

Felder was confident the fire wouldn’t get his house, but not so sure about his neighbors’.

“Some of these people had stuff right against their house,” he said, referring to trees and brush. “I feel bad for them. But that’s all part of living here. You either blend in with your environment or you end up losing.”

The fires’ growing intensity caused state officials to declare the Butte Complex their No. 1 priority of some 360 active fires statewide. As a result, an additional 500 firefighters arrived on scene Wednesday, bringing the total to 2,886.

The thick smoke has curtailed flights of firefighting aircraft, so more people on the ground may help make up the difference. Wednesday evening, seven helicopters started making water drops.

The fires were 45 percent contained at 7 p.m. About 49,000 acres have burned.

Connelly, the Butte County supervisor, pleaded for more help, especially on federal lands burning near areas he represents, including Berry Creek, Brush Creek and Lake Madrone.

“We do not have enough resources to fully contain and put a fire out,” said Connelly, frustration straining his voice. “That’s it, put the damn thing out. We need to pull in the National Guard, the Army, the Marines — whatever it takes. I need some resources here.”

In fact, 200 California National Guard soldiers are undergoing fire training in Sacramento so they can bolster the fire lines.

And on Tuesday, the Federal Emergency Management Agency declared the Butte fires eligible for federal grants to reimburse 75 percent of firefighting costs.

In addition, FEMA regional spokeswoman Kelly Hudson said the Butte fires have received $35.4 million in direct federal aid. And 80 percent of a national pool of available firefighters already have been sent to Northern California fires, she said.

“This fire is a high priority for us,” added Daniel Berlant, spokesman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. “There are 4,500 homes threatened. That’s why it’s our No. 1 priority,” he said.

The Bee’s Niesha Lofing contributed to this report.

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