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SOUTH LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – As hundreds of firefighters continue to try to gain control of a wildland fire in Napa and Lake counties, displaced residents and their pets are finding help at an emergency evacuation center at Middletown High School.
The Butts Fire, which began early Tuesday afternoon in Pope Valley and eventually burned into Lake County, had by Wednesday night burned 3,800 acres in steep and rugged terrain, destroyed two homes and seven outbuildings, according to Cal Fire.
Cal Fire said fire crews have been defending structures, constructing handline and using bulldozers to strengthen the control line around the fire perimeter. Estimated containment remained at 30 percent late Wednesday.
The cause of the fire is under investigation, Cal Fire said.
Approximately 800 personnel from fire agencies around the region, 132 fire engines, 27 fire crews, four air tankers, six helicopters, 18 dozers and three water tenders were committed to the incident by the end of the day Wednesday, according to Cal Fire.
With Cal Fire estimating that 380 structures are still threatened, the agency said evacuation orders remain in effect along Butts Canyon Road from James Creek Road to Snell Valley Road, and the Berryessa Estates area.
Officials said the evacuations were conducted with great success because residents were prepared.
A voluntary evacuation advisory for Lake County – on Butts Canyon Road from the Lake County line to Langtry Estates – also remains in effect.
Cal Fire said officials are trying to expedite residents being able to return to their homes, but in the meantime Red Cross continues to maintain its evacuation center at Middletown High School, 20932 Big Canyon Road.
The center has offered shelter not just to people, but has given safe haven to all sorts of animals – from parakeets to ponies.
Red Cross representative Susanne LaFaver said 30 people stayed in the high school gym or outside on Red Cross-provided cots in order to be near their animals on Tuesday night. Twice that number were expected on Wednesday night.
“We have horses, two at Diamond D Ranch, and other people who have ranches adjacent to the high school have volunteered their property for rabbits, birds and horses if we need it. So far we don’t,” she said.
She said a water sprayer was set up to help the animal stay cool in the hot summer weather.
LaFaver said Lake County Animal Care and Control staff have continued to come by and bring supplies – from animal crates to leashes to pet food.
Lake County Animal Care and Control Director Bill Davidson said his staff had taken over about a dozen or so crates on Tuesday night, but with more people coming in, he called officials in Napa County to get additional crates for animals.
He said on Wednesday Napa County animal officials dropped off 50 more animal crates, and his staff took more food and pet tethers for larger dogs not comfortable in the crates.
Evacuee Cheryl Brown, who lives near Lake Berryessa – the road holding the fire line leads directly to her home – was keeping her three dogs, two of her four cats and two horses at Diamond D Ranch.
“Everybody is just wonderful,” she said. “They came around with clean shirts. I got cat food for my cats, dog food for my dogs and water for my two horses.”
As for large animal evacuation, Davidson said that on Tuesday night the Lake County Sheriff's Office put on alert the Lake Evacuation and Animal Protection, or LEAP, the volunteer group he heads up to respond to major incidents like fires.
As of late Wednesday afternoon, however, Davidson said the group hadn't been activated, but was waiting to be requested.
“We’re all on pins and needles,” he said.
John Lindblom contributed to this report.
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