Smoke through the trees on the ridgeline as the Butler Fire backs toward Butler Flat on Aug. 5. Bob Ramirez, USFS

The Butler Fire continues to grow rapidly out east of Somes Bar, and firefighters are still struggling to make lines to contain the thing. But there are a couple of silver linings. For one, no structures have yet been destroyed, despite the fire’s near proximity to populated areas in Butler Flat and Nordheimer. Second, thunderstorms are due to arrive in northwest Calfornia soon — bringing with them the promise of rain, but also of additional lightning strikes on the tinderbox that is the North Coast backwoods in August.

Residents of the Orleans/Somes Bar/Salmon River area are valiantly rallying to defend one another from the blaze, and it’s inspiring to follow their lines of communication and their absolutely incredible photos on the “Salmon River and Orleans Complexities” Facebook group. If you’re a lowlander, keep your chatter to a minimum on that thing. Residents are conducting important business.

Latest update from the U.S. Forest Service:

Health Advisory

The North Coast Unified Air Quality Management District (NCUAQM) continues to extend their smoke advisory for Del Norte, Humboldt and Trinity Counties, noting that there are separate advisories for Forks of Salmon, Klamath Glen, Orleans and Weitchpec. For further information call the 24 hour Air Quality Advisory Information at 1-866-BURN-DAY or check the district’s website at www.ncuaqmd.org.

  • Detected: Wednesday, July 31, 10:00 p.m.
  • Cause: Under Investigation
  • Fuels: Timber and Brush
  • Estimated Size: 4,852
  • Containment: 8%
  • Committed Resources: Approximately 836
  • Structures Damaged or Destroyed: 0

Closures

The following closures are in effect:

  • Going into or being upon National Forest System lands in the area beginning at the intersection of Wooley creek and Highway 93 (county Road 2B01), then continuing northeast along Wooley creek to the intersection with Timothy Gulch, then continuing southeast along Timothy Gulch to the intersection with the Pacific Crest Trail, then continuing southeast along but not including the Pacific Crest Trail to the intersection with the Russian Wilderness boundary, then continuing south/southwest along the Russian Wilderness boundary to the intersection with Forest Route 39, then continuing west/northwest along but not including Forest Route 39 to the intersection with Highway 93 (county Road 2B01), then continuing northwest along Highway 93(county Road 2B01) to the starting point, as shown on the attached map.
  • Oak Bottom Campground
  • Highway 93 (Forks of Salmon Road) is closed from the east at the Highway 96 intersection and from the west at the Siskiyou County Road yard.
  • Nordheimer Campground is closed.
  • The land around the Salmon River is closed 300 feet from the high watermark between the confluence of Wooley Creek and the confluence of Nordheimer Creek.

Summary

The Butler Fire is located on the Klamath National Forest approximately 10 miles east of Somes Bar, California.

The fire continues to back into the Hammel Creek drainage to the south and into Butler Creek on the north.

Firefighters on the western edge of the fire were hampered initially yesterday by smoke, but were able to continue strengthening the line ahead of the active fire with support from air operations. Structure protection continues along the Salmon River Corridor, and crews today will assess and develop contingency plans for structure protection around Pearch Creek.

Uphill runs are anticipated today, but predicted cooler temperatures and higher humidity may provide opportunities to construct line closer to the fire’s edge, reducing the overall burned area.

Please see http://www.inciweb.org/incident/3577/# for updates and a map of the Orleans Complex.