Press release from Six Rivers National Forest:

Fire Information: 707-532-5747
Email: 2025.Butler@firenet.gov
Fire Information: Link.

Butler Fire Acreage: 2,126
Butler Fire Containment: 0%
Red Fire Acreage: 104
Number of Personnel: 313

Community Meeting

Today at 5 p.m. at the Karuk Department of Natural Resources located at 39051 Highway 96 in Orleans. For those unable to attend in person, a recording will be available on Facebook after the meeting.

Operational Update

The North Coast Interagency Incident Managment Team assumed command of the Red Fire this morning at 7 a.m. Information on both fires will be available under the Orleans Complex. A complex incident management team has been ordered and is expected to assume command by Saturday.

Butler Fire

There was some movement last night, flanking up-canyon on Hammel Creek. The fire is now in the Nordheimer Creek drainage. Overnight, firefighters patrolled the fireline to monitor fire behavior and assess special values at risk. Today, crews will continue to scout pre-existing control lines from the 2024 Boise Fire. They will begin assessment and line preparation along the 10N04 to Nordheimer Creek Road. Structure Groups will continue structure protection. From the campground, crews are working on reopening handlines up to the Orleans Mountain Trail. Crews will work on brushing and line preparation operations along Salmon River Road and Nordheimer Creek. Air resources are being utilized to tame critical hotspots as well as assist with efforts on the Red Fire. An Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) may be used for strategic firing operations as early as this evening.

Red Fire

As of last night, the Red Fire is estimated to be approximately 104 acres. It is burning in heavy timber and dense vegetation in the Siskiyou Wilderness Area. Smokejumpers and crews are making good progress on the fire using direct and full suppression tactics to minimize the footprint of this fire. There are no structures threatened or evacuations. The fire is located approximately 1.5 miles north of Nickowitz Peak, 17 miles Northwest of Orleans and 15 miles Southeast of Klamath.

Closures

Residents should prepared for potential delays and road closures along Salmon River Road between Butler Flat and Nordheimber Campground. Nordheimer and Oak Bottom Campgrounds are both closed.

Evacuations

Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office have evacuation warnings and orders in place for the Butler Fire. As Evacuation Order has been issued for zone SIS-1703 (no residents). Zones SIS-1704 (Butler Creek, Lewis Creek, Bloomer Mine residents and Nordheimer Campground) SIS-1707, and SIS-1803-A (no residents) remain under Warnings, but residents are advised to be prepared as the situation evolves. Weather & Fire Behavior: Today the fire may continue to spread into Butler, Grant, and Hammel Creeks. The fire may also make short runs when it aligns with the slope as it wraps around Butler Mountain. Grant Creek and the draw on the north side of Butler Mountain will see significant downhill winds.

Fire Safety & Prevention

For the past 10 days, firefighters on the Six Rivers National Forest and other Northern California forests have been responding to and working on suppression of wildfires following thunderstorms over the area a week ago. Area residents and visitors can help firefighters continue their work by helping prevent human-caused wildfires.

Make sure equipment, including vehicles, are in good working condition. Check that tires are properly inflated with good tread. Avoid driving and parking in tall grass or on roads with heavy, fine fuel accumulations. Exhaust particles, hot exhaust pipes and hot catalytic converters can start grass fires in a matter of seconds.