Butte, Yuba County Wildfires Latest: 1 Dead; Some Evacuations Lifted; Thousands Of Acres Burned

BUTTE COUNTY, CA — Three large fires and one small fire in Butte and Yuba counties have burned thousands of acres and prompted hundreds of evacuations, Cal Fire officials said. Officials said one person died after crashing on a road along the Cascade fire area. On Monday, Gov. Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency Monday in Yuba, Sonoma and Napa counties because of multiple fires in the areas.

The Cherokee fire, which started in the area of Cherokee Road and Zonalea Lane in Oroville at about 9:45 p.m. Sunday, has burned more than 7,500 acres and is about 40 percent contained. Officials said Cherokee Road has been downgraded to an evacuation warning and all other evacuations have been lifted.

The La Porte fire (Wind Complex) in Bangor has burned about 3,700 acres since it started early Monday morning. It is 15 percent contained. Thousands of customers in the area are without power.

Watch: Evacuations Ordered As Wildfires Burn Through Calif. Wine Country

The evacuation order for the Community west of Bangor has been reduced to an evacuation warning and residents can reenter. All other evacuation orders remain in place.

• Oro Bangor Highway from Miners Ranch Road to Avacado Road
• Dunstone Road to La Porte Road
• Laporte Road west of Pleasant Grove Lane

Evacuation Orders remain in effect in the following areas:

• La Porte Road from Pleasant Grove Lane to Darby Road, and all areas of Los Verjeles Road
• Oro Bangor Highway from Avacado Road to the Bangor 4 Corners

The Cascade fire (Wind Complex) in Yuba County, which started late Sunday morning, has burned 12,349 acres and is about 20 percent contained. Officials said one person died after crashing on a road along the Cascade fire area.

Evacuation Orders are in place for all areas south of Bitney Springs Road from Beitler Road. to Empress Road.

• All areas west of Bitney Springs Road from Empress Road to Rough and Ready Highway.
• All areas north of Rough and Ready Highway from North Ponderosa Way to Rough and Ready Road.
• All areas east of Beitler Road from Bitney Springs Road to Hwy 20 including the Empty Diggins Lane area.
• La Porte Road from Pleasant Grove Lane to Darby Road and all areas of Los Verjeles Road.
• Oro Bangor Highway from Avacado Road. to the Bangor 4 Corners.
• Evacuation Warnings are in place for all areas of Highway 20 from Rough and Ready Highway to Sloping Oaks Road south to Angel Wing Lane and Oak Ridge Road at Ant Hill Road.
• All areas west of Pleasant Valley Road to Butte County Line from Bitney Springs Road to Highway 20.
• The areas south of the following roads: Honcut Road at Fruitland Road, Spring Valley at Marysville Road, Smith Road at Loma Rica Road, Peoria Road and Township Road, Peoria Road at Bald Mountain Road, Virginia Road at Smith Road, La Porte Road at Pleasant Grove Lane, Honcut Road at La Porte Road, Vierra Lane at La Porte Road, Marysville Road at Scott Grant Road, Marysville Road at Willow Glenn Road, La Porte Road at Darby Road.
• All areas east to Collins Lake and the Yuba/Nevada County line, not including the Oregon House community are under evacuation orders.

Another small fire started Monday afternoon in Butte County. The Honey fire has burned about 90 acres in the area of Honey Run Road and Merlin Lane, southwest of Paradise and the blaze is about 30 percent contained. The CMA Church on Clark Road is the designated assembly point for those evacuated.

• Evacuation Orders: remain in place for Zone 9, Upper Honey Run, and Lower Skyway Zones. Evacuation Order is being downgraded to Evacuation Warning in Zones 4, 10 and Lower Neal Zone.
• Evacuation Warning: is being lifted in Zone 1.

Officials have opened the Yuba Sutter Fairgrounds for evacuees. The fairgrounds are located at 442 Franklin Avenue in Yuba City. Those in need of assistance with evacuations can call 530-538-7322. The Red Cross has opened an evacuation center at the Church of the Nazarene, which is located at 2238 Monte Vista Ave. in Oroville. The Salvation Army will provide meal services to evacuees.

Several churches are also open for evacuees:

• Twin Cities Church is open at 11726 Rough and Ready Highway
• Grass Valley First Baptist Church, located at 1866 Ridge Rd.
• Grass Valley Nazarene Church, located 2238 Monte Vista Ave.

Animals can be taken to several shelters:

• Oroville Animal Shelter: Nevada Co. Fairgrounds: 11228 McCourtney Rd.
• Grass Valley Small Animal Shelter: The Old County Hospital: 2279 Del Oro Ave.
• Oroville Large Animal Shelter: Camelot Equestrian Park: 1985 Clark Road, Oroville

School closures:

• Butte County school closures for Wednesday: Bangor Elementary is closed through October 13.
• Nevada Joint Union Grass Valley High School reopens Wednesday.
• Marysville Joint Unified School District canceled school for students and staff at Yuba Feather, Dobbins, Loma Rica, Browns Valley, Foothill Intermediate.

Massive wildfires are also burning in Napa, Sonoma, Solano, Marin, Lake, Nevada and Mendocino counties:

See Also:

• Calif. Fire Summary, Map: 73,000+ Acres Burned In Less Than 12 Hours
• Mill Valley Fire Chief Loses Home In Santa Rosa Fire
• First Death Reported In NorCal Blazes
• Sonoma Fires Close Petaluma City Schools Monday
• Rohnert Park Fire Evacuations Ordered As Sonoma County Wildfires Spread
• Butte County Fires Prompt Evacuations: Cal Fire
• State Route 37 Closure: Fires Fully Close Highway
• SMART Train Service Canceled Due To Wildfires
• Smoke Smell From North Bay Fires, Officials Say
• Deadly Northern California Wildfires: 15 Dead; Thousands Of Structures Lost; 87K Without Power
• East Bay Firefighters Deploy To North Bay

Photo of smoke from Cascade fire courtesy Cal Fire via Twitter