CA-STC-PASS - Sutter Buttes - 50 Acres - 100%

Sutter Buttes fire knocked down at 50 acres

Fire crews are keeping an eye today on the smoldering remains of a 50-acre fire that scorched South Butte in the Sutter Buttes Tuesday night, making sure it doesn't flare up again, a Sutter County official said.

"They don't want to leave any chance of this flaring up again," Public Information Officer Chuck Smith said.

Two Cal Fire hand crews were sent up South Butte this morning in order to keep an eye on various spots still smoking that have the potential to reignite, and today's predicted high temperature is 104 on the valley floor.

"The concern is there's smoke in some areas that are just not accessible," Smith said.

Smith said there is particular concern if the fire restarts on the steeper northern side of South Butte.

"If one of these hot spots gets going in the heat today, and that fire gets transferred down that slope, there's a lot of issues," he said.

The top of South Butte is the location of several communications towers, which are used by local emergency services, television and radio stations, wireless companies, and even Union Pacific Railroad.

Smith said it is still unknown if any towers were damaged, but some are still operating on generator power.

Smith said a buzzard getting electrocuted by a transmission line was the cause of the fire.

The fire was reported at 8 p.m. above Pass Road. Smith said it was knocked down between 3 and 4 a.m., despite some winds.

The steep terrain made fighting the fire more difficult.

"You can't get a fire truck up there," he said.

Smith said firefighters responded from Cal Fire, Sutter County, Yuba City and Meridian.

By Robert LaHue/Appeal-Democrat
Source: Appeal Democrat

Editors note: I drove out Pass Road this morning and took a couple photos. Fire is virtually out this morning, no smoke showing but there does seem to be fire equipment up at the summit. I saw the glint of one vehicle on the road that winds to the top and I saw a reflection of the sun on something at the summit. (Photo below taken by Anakerie)

UPDATE @ 6:30PM:
According to the Appeal Democrat website, the fire was contained at about 1pm this afternoon. Crews from Sutter County Fire, Yuba City Fire, Meridian Fire Dept, East Nicolaus and Calfire fought the blaze.

(According to the time the fire was declared contained, there were still active spot fires when I took the photo above this morning. From what I have found out, most of the hot spots were on the North side of the butte. The photo was taken from the Southeast side.)