SOUTH LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – As firefighters continue to gain ground on the Butts Fire – burning at the Napa and Lake County lines – another wildland fire in Yolo County has burned thousands of acres.
Cal Fire said Saturday evening that containment on the Butts Fire – which began Tuesday afternoon in Pope Valley northwest of Lake Berryessa and eventually burned into Lake County – had reached 75 percent. The fire's size remains at 4,300 acres.
The number of firefighters assigned to the incident was cut nearly in half on Saturday, with 974 personnel said to be working the incident, along with 61 fire engines, 30 fire crews, four helicopters, two dozers and 14 water tenders, Cal Fire reported.
Another injury was reported on Saturday, bringing the total to four, according to Cal Fire.
Cal Fire said difficult terrain, along with low humidity, has continued to be a challenge for firefighters. Flare ups have been an issue but have been quickly extinguished.
Firefighters on Saturday continued to strengthen control lines and mop up hot spots around the fire perimeter, officials said.
Cal Fire said the fire suppression repair and rehabilitation phase has begun, with firefighting resources starting the demobilization process and becoming available to support new incidents.
That ability to deploy to other fires was critical because a new incident that began on Friday in Yolo County has burned thousands of acres.
Cal Fire said the Monticello Fire – first reported just after 9:30 p.m. Friday on Highway 128 at Monticello Dam, on the southeast shore of Lake Berryessa – had burned 7,000 acres and was 30 percent contained by Saturday night, with 350 firefighting personnel assigned.
Officials said 40 structures were threatened in Golden Bear Estates, where mandatory evacuations are in effect. An evacuation center has been est up at the Winters Community Center.
Activity on the Monticello Fire increased significantly Saturday afternoon, with Cal Fire reporting that firefighters were challenged by remote and difficult access on the fire, which is burning in extremely rugged and steep terrain that includes grassy oak woodland and heavy fuels in the higher elevations.
Cal Fire said firefighters were focusing on building control lines around the Golden Bear Estates residential area.
The Napa County Sheriff's Office issued an advisory to area residents Saturday evening to explain that the large plume of smoke seen east of Napa County was from the Monticello Fire, and didn't pose a threat to Napa County.
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