September 2007 Archives

Geologists from Caltrans and the U.S. Forest Service are inspecting the damage from the Butler II Fire today.

Inspectors are climbing hillsides and looking at erosion and other factors that may lead to mudslides with the weekend's storm and the coming winter, said Caltrans spokeswoman Terri Kasinga.
"Their assessment is going to determine how long we keep the road closed," Kasinga said.
Highway 18 between Lake View Point and the Big Bear Dam, in an area known as the Arctic Circle, remains closed.

A flash flood watch is in effect for the San Bernardino Mountains for this afternoon through Saturday morning, particularly around the Butler II Fire.
The National Weather Service said about a quarter to a half-inch of rain could fall on the mountains during that time.

FAWNSKIN - Weather was on the minds of firefighters remaining on the smoldering Butler II Fire this morning as high winds blew through the area and thick clouds prevented aircraft from attacking the blaze.
The 14,039-acre blaze is 93 percent contained. Fire officials had been expecting full containment of the fire today, but were now unsure because of the upcoming storm.
"The winds are still erratic and we're having gusts up to 15 mph," said U.S. Forest Service spokesman Justice Jones.

Several firefighters left the San Bernardino National Forest on Wednesday, as crews moved closer to containing the Butler Fire 2 Fire.

However Rocky Opliger, incident commander and assistant chief of fire and aviation operations for the San Bernardino National Forest, told firefighters assembled for Wednesday evening's briefing that the blaze could be followed by additional fires in the coming weeks. "We're just at the beginning of fire season in Southern California. If you're not from Southern California, you probably don't believe that," Opliger said. "Wait for the Santa Ana winds to pick up, and you'll be back."

Last year, the deadly Esperanza Fire caused the deaths of five firefighters in October after an arsonist lit a blaze in Cabazon that was heavily fanned by Santa Ana winds. The massive Old and Grand Prix fires were also October blazes. Those fires raged in 2003.

-Andrew Edwards

Firefighters wore coats and gloves as they prepared for Wednesday night's shift. Temperatures were down to about 50 degrees around 6 p.m. and expected to get lower.

As a predicted rainstorm approaches the San Bernardino Mountains, crews were advised to watch out for signs of hypothermia "You're not going to stay warm," incident commander Rockty Opliger told firefighters near the conclusion of the Wednesday evening briefing. "I know you're going to stay busy."

-Andrew Edwards

Total acreage: 14,039

Containment: 93 percent. They are expecting 100 percent containment Thursday.

Injuries: Two firefighters suffered ankle injuries, one suffered a dislocated knee and one suffered a dislocated shoulder.

Buildings lost: Three outbuildings since the fire began

People under mandatory evacuation: 0. All voluntary and mandatory evacuations were lifted as of 6 p.m. Wednesday.

Cause: Under investigation

Firefighers and personnel: 1,997

Equipment: 12 fixed wing aircraft, 43 handcrews, 17 helicopters, 34 water tenders, 104 engines and 6 bulldozers

A wind advisory remains in effect for the San Bernardino and Riverside county and for the Apple and Lucern valleys. It is expected to remain in effect until 11 a.m. Friday.

A strong low pressure system was expected to bring local gusty winds to portions of the mountains and deserts, according to a news release by the National Weather Service. A wind advisory means winds of 35 miles an hour were predicted and could make driving difficult.

With the lifting of the mandatory evacuations, the Inland Empire chapter of the American Red Cross will start to look toward packing up their evacuation center at Pine Summit Christian Camp in Big Bear Lake. But no time has yet been set for the closure until volunteers can assess the needs of the three families that have been regular guests at the shelter, said Yevette Ramos, director of development with the local chapter. They may close as early as Thursday morning, however, she said.

Since opening the shelters on Friday, 60 Red Cross volunteers worked to provide aid to some 60 affected members of the mountain communities. They served some 200 meals, and provided 50 comfort kits which include items such as soap and toothbrushes.

All evacuations have been lifted in all the affected cities including Fawnskin, according to U.S. Forest Service officials. Highway 38 is also now open from the dam to the discovery Center to residents heading into the Big Bear area. But they must show proof of residency by providing officials a utility bill or driver's license with their current address.

CalTrans is posting bright orange signs around Fawnskin warning "Mud and debris flows possible below recent burn areas."
Authorities fear mud and rockslides within the town and along Highway 18 when the expected rain hits late Thursday.

Here on sbsun.com, we posted plenty of videos but there are plenty of other videos from the Butler II fire on youtube.com. Here are some samples.

(photo by LaFonzo Rachal Carter, The Sun)

Several large fire engines could be seen driving down Highway 330 away from the fire as fire commanders began sending crews home on Wednesday.

It was the larger type one fire engines that are used to battle structure fires that were being sent down the
mountain as threats to buildings around the fire area are diminishing.

"Almost all of the type-one engines will be gone by tonight," said Pete Jankowski, spokesman for the
fire management team.
- Andrew Edwards

(photo by LaFonzo Rachal Carter, The Sun)

Homemade signs are popping up around Fawnskin to pay tribute to the firefighters efforts.
Wrapped around a wooden fence in front of a small house is a huge white board that reads "Special thanks to all emergency personnel".

The Gold Pan Restaurant, which has remained open during the blaze to feed fire personnel, is serving bertween 80
to 200 meals per shift.
"I'm ready to put my feet up. Let me tell you," said Shaleigh Shanahan, 20, the manager.
The three member staff is working from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. in keeping with firefighters' shift changes.
Community donations have helped feed the firefighters but the owner, Barbara Aker, is paying the rest out of
pocket.
"They're here in our town. They're away from home and I'm here to take care of them," Aker said.

--Stacia Glenn

Seven firefighters parked their engines at the Big Bear Lake north shore launching facility and are teaching themselves how to fish.
Since they do not start shift until 6 p.m. tonight they bought fishing rods from the local K-Mart and are enjoying
the beauty of the mountains. One of them even went swimming in the chilly water.

A Fresno fire engine is parked at the north shore launching facility, acting as the first step in a "water shuttle
operation."
They run a hose into Big Bear Lake and are able to fill water tenders as they roll through.
The water tenders then deliver the water to engines that are on the front lines.
"It's a lot faster than the water tenders could do themselves and it's a benefit to the city by not taxing the
water system," said Fresno Firefighter Dustin Simmons.

-- Stacia Glenn

Firefighters continue to clear brush surrounding houses in Fawnskin even though they don't expect the fire will get
too close.
"Right now we're looking pretty good," said Marty Lee, engineer with a Lassen-based US Forest Service engine.
His crew was parked in the driveway of a brown two-story house off Highway 38, running hose lines through the
yard.
It's their third shift in four days and they've received no word of when they'll be going home.
But more importantly, Lee wants to remind mountain residents how important it is they keep brush at bay
themselves.
"Homeowners need to do their clearance," Lee said.
"We're going to try to save the structures that have the potential to be saved."

--Stacia Glenn

Even if the fire is 100 percent contained by tomorrow, firefighters will still be hard at work.
There is a big difference between contained and controlled, warned fire officials.
"Even if we get a black ring around the whole fire, there's still a lot to do," said Lee Bentley, a member of the team managing the fire.
He estimated mop-up efforts - a term to describe the removal of remaining vegetation and dousing any remaining hot spots - to take up to a month.

-- Stacia Glenn

Firefighters are pushing for more containment lines focusing along Highway 18 and the northeast side of the fire.

"Today could be a different ballgame," said Lee Bentley, a member of the Callifornia Interagency Management Team.

The goal is to back the fire about 100 feet away from containment lines, officials said.

About 20,000 gallons of water is expected to be dropped on the northside of the blaze, on a steep mountain that drops down into Lucerne Valley.

"It's a steep, rocky terrain and some areas are not accessible for hand crews," said Beth Goodman, a fire expert with the National Park Service.

-- Stacia Glenn

The DC-10 air tanker will not be making anymore appearances on the Butler II Blaze.

"It helps to catch a large part of the fire, so we can get a handle on it," said Lee Bentley, a member of the California Interagency Incident Management Team.

The DC-10 has made a record-number of drops during this fire, including seven on Sunday when it dropped more than 77,000 gallons of retardant on the fire.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, and fire officials wonder if they will ever know what started the blaze Friday afternoon.

"We may never know, " said Lee Bentley, with the California Interagency Incident Management Team. "Sometimes fires just happen like that."

Strong winds could start blowing by 1 p.m. today.

Fire officials said the Butler II fire could be contained by Thursday if the winds do not spark erratic fire behavior.

Gust of 40 MPH are expected on the ridgetops on Wednesday night, and slopes could see 20-35 MPH winds.

"There's always a concern with the winds," said Lee Bentley, a member of the team managing the fire.

The winds could drive the fire, said Beth Goodman, a fire expert with the National Park Service.

Rain, which is expected to fall late Thursday, could help with fire prevention, but also cause rock and mudslides along Highway 18.

"It would help fire suppression, but there are also the environmental concerns it leaves for the town," Goodman said.

-- Stacia Glenn

Voluntary evacuations in Lucerne Valley, Green Valley Lake, Running Springs and Arrowbear have been lifted. A manadatory evacuation remains for Fawnskin, where the fire is burning a 400 yards northeast of town.

Engines are still parked in the driveways of Fawnskin homes, ready to beat back flames if they creep into neighborhoods.

About 200 homes are still threatened in the Lucerne Valley area because the fire is burning on a ridgetop about the High Desert community.

-- Stacia Glenn

With 86 percent containment, many fire crews are being sent home or being dispatched to other fires.

"Personnell has gone down and it will continue to go down," said Lee Bentley, supervisor with the California Interagency Incident Management Team.

There are 2,346 personnel fighting the blaze today, which is down from more than 2,500 on Tuesday.

The fire is holding at just over 14,000 acres. The cost has jumped to $5,923,477.

"We're going home," said Fred Orsborne, an inicident management team member.

Equipment has also been downgraded. There are 164 engines, eight dozers, 28 water tenders and 17 helicopters working today.

CHP officers working Highway 18 roadblocks around the Butler II Fire have been overwhelmed with cookies and gift bags from residents in the San Bernardino Mountains who wanted to give the officers a treat during their long shifts. Officer Jeremy Pursley said an officer working overnight Tuesday received so many items, he ran many of them up the hill to firefighters. The gift bags contained mostly food items such as sandwiches, bottled water, sodas and juice, Pursley said.

Staffers with Flood Control were scheduled to assess on Wednesday the risk of flooding in the Fawnskin area, particularly around Grout Bay. The plan was to post warning signs at properties where future rain storms could pose a flood risk.

Numbers for the Butler Fire II

Total acreage: 14,039 acres
Containment: 86 percent
Injuries: One firefighter suffered a minor injury Saturday.
Buildings lost: Three outbuildings since the fire began
People under mandatory evacuation: 1,200
Cause: Under investigation
Firefighters: 2,346
Equipment: 12 fixed wing aircraft, 17 helicopters, 69 hand crews, 8 bulldozers, 164 engines and 28 water tenders.

As firefighters gain the upper hand on the Butler II Fire, relieved residents have begun to focus on other things. Connie Smalley-Parker of Fawnskin was looking for ways to thank firefighters who worked so tirelessly. Tuesday, afternoono, she painted signs that read “ Thank you firefighters” in red lettering.
“I figured a little bit of encouragement can't hurt,” she said.

Smalley-Parker said she was so confident in the firefighters abilities, that she decided to hold her ground and not evacuate. “We've got a lot of faith in these guys,” she added.

Other people were feeling bored. “I'd rather get into town where there is life,” said Tim McKinnon. He and fellow Fawnskin residents David and Michelle Keener all decided not to evacuate. But it has left the group with a lot of free time on their hands.

“What you see is what you get.,” Michelle Keener said. “It's pretty boring.”

- Andrew Edwards

Containment of the Butler Fire II is now listed at 86 percent according to Tina Rose, spokeswoman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Services. The new containment figures were released about 6 p.m.

About 250 engines are still parked in 600 driveways in Fawkskin to ensure that the blaze doesn't destroy houses or property.
"Crews are preparing structure by removing brush, timber litter and other combustible materials," said Marc Peebles, a San Bernardino County Fire battalion chief in charge of strucutre protection.

-- Andrew Edwards

A pirate ship that offers tours on Big Bear Lake cruised by firefighters near Dwane R. Boyer launching facility on the north shore of Fawnskin this afternoon and pretended to fire a cannon at them.
"It was hilarious," said Mike Nelsen, a division supervisor with the U.S. Forest Service.

-- Andrew Edwards

The DC-10 Airtanker, which dropped a record 99,000 gallons on Sunday, continues to impress fire officials with how much it is able to help cut down the fire zone.
On Monday, the DC-10 released 22,312 gallons of red fire retardant. Other tankers dropped a combined 177,700 gallons on Monday.
Numbers for how many gallons the tankers dropped today were not immediately available.

-- Stacia Glenn

The California Interagency Incident Management Team is working on a contingency plan on how to handle the storm when it hits midweek. They are running all possible scenarios, ranging from what to do if rock slides close Highway 18 to where equipment should be placed.
"The health and welfare of our firefighters comes first," said team member Frank Mosbacher. "But second, we need a plan in case a lot of rains comes. We need to know how to position equipment on Highway 18."

-- Stacia Glenn

A storm system unlike anything seen in more than 20 years may bring some of the coldest September weather starting Thursday, according to the National Weather Service news release. Showers are possible as is snow in the mountains at the 6,000-foot level and even water spouts could form in the waters off our coastal cities. NWS officials warn that the storm will be "quite cold for September" and will bring a possibility of thunderstorms.

The storm was developing over southwestern British Columbia, NWS officials said. It was expected to move south quickly to the bay area by Wednesday evening and them slowly makes it way through Central California before it slowly moves eastward across Southern California on Thursday night and lingering into Saturday. Strong winds were predicted to develop in the mountains and deserts Wednesday and Thursday.

U.S. Forest Service officials are afraid of what effect the blaze will have on 12 federally listed endangered plant speces and one endangered bird.
The southwest willow flycatcher is known to have a habitat in Holcomb Creek, an area where the fire has ripped through since Saturday.
Also threatened are the ash gray paintbrush plant, south mountain wild buckwheat, Bear Valley sandwort, California dandelion, San Bernardino bluegrass, bird-foot checkerbloom, slender-patalled mustard, parish's daisy, Cushenbury oxytheca, San Bernardino bladderpod, Cushenbury buckwheat and Cushenbury milk-vetch.

-- Stacia Glenn

Senator Bob Dutton, R-Rancho Cuamonga just ended a 30-minute helicopter tour around the fire.

"I think it's important for me to have a visual of what the damage is and what resources are going to be necessary
to make sure people who live in the mountains will have their needs addressed," he said.

He said he is feeling "confident" about fire conditions, but is concerned about what challenges will
lie in the aftermath of the blaze.

Water quality will need to be assessed and the safety of Highway 18 has been compromised by exposed boulders and rolling debris. He credited Fawnskin residetns with being dilligent in clearing brush from their homes.

"We're very fortunate that people are learning," he said. "I think we're a lot better prepared today than we
were 10 years ago (for fire disasters)."

-- Stacia Glenn

Weather appears to be cooperating with firefighters. The winds are expected today out of the south at 6 to 12 mph and humidity levels remain low.

But the expected storm is front and center in the minds of the California Interagency Incident Management Team
that is supervising the Butler II Fire.

"Anytime there's a weather change, it's always a big concern to us, " siad Pete Jankowski.

When the storm hits, southwest winds are expected to blow up to 35 mph, which could encourage erratic fire behavior. That's why containment lines are the major focus of today's efforts.

"With that wind coming they're trying to get the enforced containment lines and continue to build in all
the areas they can," Jankowski said.

There's a small fear the storm could bring more dry lightning and firefighters are hoping for rain.

But even rain could deter efforts to beat the blaze down. The rain decreases mobility and makes it difficult for
fire crews to climb steep elevation.

-- Stacia Glenn

The evacuation center has been moved to the Pine Summit Christian Camp at 700 Wren Drive in Big Bear Lake. The center housed 30 evacuees Monday night.

Structure protection engines are rolling down the mountain. Fourteen strike teams are going home today.
But fire personel have actually increased to 2,505, as more hand crews are brought in.
"At first there was a big need for structural engines," said Keith Jankowski, who is with the California
Interagency Incident Management Team. "Now there's more of a need for handcrews to go up."

The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Officials know it started north of Highway 18 in the
same vicinity of the first Butler fire, but have not concluded their findings.

Some Fawnskin residents believe the blaze is due to the same lightning that sparked the first fire. The lightning
can stirke a tree's roots deep in the ground and smolder for long amounts of time before bursting into flames.

-- Stacia Glenn

Thirty firefighters battled a house fire that spread into about a quarter acre of surrounding brush this morning.
The blaze at the corner of Edelweiss and Dorn drives was reported at 6:59 a.m., said California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Capt. Debbie Chapman.

On Highway 18, in the area known as Arctic Circle, firefighters have been mounting an aggresive attack in an effort to keep the fire from backing down into the road. The concern is that if it does, you'll have a lot of debris coming down. Officials also worry that if they lose all that vegetation on those slopes, it's possible county officials will have to close Highway 18 through much of the winter and possibly into the spring because of concerns over run-off.

Butler II facts by 7:30 p.m Monday

Total acreage: 14,039 acres

People under mandatory evacuation: 1,200

Containment: 53 percent

Injuries: One firefighters suffered a minor ankle.

Number of buildings destroyed: Three outbuildings since the fire began

Evacution center: DownOne at Fawnskin, Big Bear High School

Cause: Under investigation

Equipment: 12 air tankers, 23 helicopters, 68 handcrews, 12 bulldozers, and 33 water tenders.

Firefighters: 2,505

Weather prediction for overnight: Crews are seeing a pretty cold night with temperatures in the '30s. The humidity is higher and is expected to climb to between 50 to 60 percent overnight . The winds are expected to decrease..

Sources: U.S. Forest Service

FEMA authorized the use of federal funds to help fire crews battle the Butler II Fire. A Fire Management Assistance Grant was approved at 1:29 p.m., on Saturday. The fire started at noon of September 14. At the time the request was made, the fire threatened hundreds of homes in Fawnskin, 6,000 homes in Lucerne Valley, and 150 businesses and recreational facilities in the surrounding areas, according to a news release by the agency. The authorization makes FEMA funding available to pay 75 percent of the state’s eligible firefighting costs under an approved grant for managing, mitigating and controlling designated fires.

Federal fire management assistance is provided through the President’s Disaster Relief Fund and is made available by FEMA to assist in fighting fires that threaten to cause a major disaster.

A line of fire engines and crews from Orange, Santa Ana, Anaheim were sitting along Highway 38 just before Fawnskin watching over structures in the area as aircraft continue to make water and fire retardant drops just on the other side of a hill. No immediate threat has been determined.

Margaret Beed, an officer with the San Bernardino County Health office is warning those in and around the Butler II fire zone that smoky conditions can be hazardous to the elderly, those with heart conditions and those with asthma or other respiratory ailments. Beed urges anyone with a medical condition to keep five day supply of any needed medications on hand. Beed also advises people to consult their doctors, formulate a plan and stick to it.

Most residents should stay indoors if possible and check for a recirculation function an air conditioning units, according to a county health news release. Anyone who develops chest pain, chest tightness, shortness of breath or severe fatigue is advised to contact a doctor whether or not they have a pre-existing condition as smoke can "unmask" or cause these conditions.

Smoke from the Butler II fire has drifted all the way into Colorado and Wyoming, said John Miller, spokesman with U.S. Forest Service. A health advisory that had been issued in Las Vegas because of the smoke has been lifted.

The pilot single engine air tanker that was forced to make an emergency landing in a parking lot off of Fox Farm Road was not injured, said John Miller, spokesman with U.S. Forest Service. An warning light came on shortly after take off from the Big Bear Airport at 1:10 p.m. Shortly after that, the aircraft lost power. The pilot landed successfully but one of the landing gear's wheels collapsed, Miller said. Fire officials grounded other aircraft until they could determined what caused the air tanker to lose power, Miller said. They resumed air attack on the Butler II fire about 2:30 p.m.

U.S. Forest Service received a report of an air tanker that made a hard landing behind a Vons supermarket in Big Bear City about 1:30 p.m. There were no reports of injuries.

Firefighters are battling at least half a dozen small blazes along the Arizona state line.
One of the fires that was estimated to be about a quarter-acre burned on reservation land on the California side, said San Bernardino County fire dispatch supervisor Otto Schramm.
Fire officials received reports of the blaze on Dike Road about five miles south of Avi Road about 9:30 a.m. It was sparked by embers from other blazes on the Arizona side, Schramm said. Embers from the reservation fire then leapt over the Colorado River and started a blaze on the Arizona side.
The fire, which is burning in heavy vegetation, is being attacked by firefighters from the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Mojave and San Bernardino County fire departments. San Bernardino County sent a fire task force as a precaution, Schramm said.

Captain John's Harbor is Fawnskin's safety zone, where people can gather if the fire forces them out.
Capt. John Saunders rested at the harbor beneath a tree with his black and white cat Docker on his lap, watching
tankers load up with water from the lake.
He said he is not concerned for his property, but his worry is for how the city will fare.
"It's a dirty, nasty deal. It's a terrible fire," he said. "I knew this was going to be a long battle."

Many Fawnskin folks have chosen to stay.
"I chose not to evacuate," said Frank Cruz, 68, who moved here a year ago. "But I worry quite a bit. This is my retirement, my dream house, my piece of paradise."
After family friends called last night because his wife looked too stressed, he left by boat but convinced her to
return this morning.
The couple is hunkered down in their three story home with all the windows and doors shut.
"To me, if it gets that bad, I'll leave," cruz said.
Their insurance papers, photo albums and other important documents are safe with friends.
Cruz left briefly again this afternoon to get a vanilla ice cream cone in Big Bear Lake.
"I feel better now. I can cope with anything."
But he didn't forget his wife. She'll be surprised with a box of chocolates.

Meteorologists anticipate that firefighters will face another dry day as the battle against the Butler 2 Fire continues.
However, conditions could improve later this week.
U.S. Forest Service fire information officer Lee Bentley said today’s weather forecast calls for 9 to 15 percent humidity around Fawnskin and temperatures as high as 65 to 70 degrees, which is considered hot for the Bear Valley area.
A southwest wind is expected to blow at around 8-15 mph, fanning the flames toward the desert community of Lucerne Valley.
The upshot is that the Butler 2 blaze is likely to continue another day as a powerful fire, even though weather conditions have improved since the windy Saturday when the fire rushed through the forest.
“We expect the fire behavior to be extreme,” Bentley said.
The National Weather Service has predicted that rain could fall over Fawnskin later this week. The agency forecasts a 20 percent chance of showers on Thursday.
“That could help,” National Weather Service meteorologist Stan Wasowski said.
- Andrew Edwards

Bear Unified School District plans to resume classes at all schools in the district Tuesday, but that may change if the behavior of the fire changes, district officials said. Updates on school sites may be found on the district's website at http://www.bigbear.k12.ca.us/.

Crews are lining Highway 18 up to the Big Bear Dam to ensure the flames don't jump the road. The terrain west of the old Butler Fire burn area is too steep and rocky for crews to navigate.

The Inland Empire California Conservation Corps has brought in dozens of men and women ages 18 to 25 who are seeking careers in forestry or firefighting.
They deliver supplies, bag the trash, run errands, and fill up gas tanks.
“I’m learning more about my surroundings, about my environment,” said Trevelle Denn, 22, of San Bernardino.
The corps recruits sleep in tents on the hillside behind Snow Valley Ski Lift with fire personnel.
And what have they learned?
“Fighting fires is a lot of work and time,” said Jon Davis, 19, of Mareno Valley.
- Stacia Glenn

One of five California Interagency Incident Management teams are supervising the fire.
About 50 personnel from across the state arrived Saturday.
Their tenure is usually 14 days, said spokesman Pete Jankowski.
This team is familiar with the area because it was called out for the Grand Prix and Old Fires in 2003. They also assisted at Hurricane Katrina and a space shuttle recovery.
- Stacia Glenn

About 1,700 people dine this morning on fried eggs, bacon, french toast and grits.
Stewart’s Firefighting Food Catering, which arrived Saturday at midnight from Lakeview, Ore., slaved over stoves nearly 24-7.
They started cooking at 2 a.m. Monday for a 5 a.m. breakfast.
“It’s hard work, long hours, but good money,” said Doug Adams, one of the cooks.
The cooks rushed around at 1020 a.m. trying to fill sack lunches with sandwiches, fruit, juice and candy. Each lunch weighs about three pounds.
And for dinner tonight?
Garlic roasted pork loin, rice pilaf, fresh veggies and rolls.
- Stacia Glenn

Green Valley Lake from Crystal Creek to High Road has been downgraded to a voluntary evacuation.
Mandatory evacuations are still in place for Fawnskin residents.
About 2,245 firefighters are battling the blaze, which is about 3/4 of a mile outside Fawnskin.
Nearly 250 engines and 10 strike teams are setting up in the driveways of 600 homes, prepping in case the fire is blown into neighborhoods.
Voluntary evacuations are still in place for Running Springs, Arrowbear and Lucerne Valley.
- Stacia Glenn

Caltrans crews conducted "rock runs" through Sunday night into Monday morning, as a result of rock slides around the Butler II Fire.

A CalTrans truck, armed with a plow, was seen on Highway 18 on Sunday night with the intention of clearing debris from the roadway. Rock slides were on the road near the Big Bear Lake Dam and the Butler II fire was rolling its way down the drainages toward the highway.

Highway 330, which had been closed to traffic beginning in Highland, has been reopened. Traffic was moving up the mountain at 9:30 p.m. on Sunday. Highway 18, however, remains closed between Arrowbear and the Big Bear Lake Dam.

U.S. Forest Service officials say the Butler II fire has lay down a little bit as night fall settled over the area. They also remind residents that evacuations of Green Valley, Lucern Valley are still voluntary while the evacuations in Fawnskin are still mandatory.

Butler II facts by 8 p.m Sunday

Total acreage: 15,433 acres

Containment: 12 percent

Injuries: One firefighter on Saturday suffered a minor injury

Buildings lost: One maintenance building on Saturday

People under mandatory evacuation: 1,200

Cause: Unknown

Firefighters: 2,245

Weather prediction for Monday: A red-flag warning ended at 8 p.m. Sunday. Mostly sunny with temperatures in the 60s, maximum of 25 percent humidity level with winds 10 mph and gusts up to 35 mph on the ridgetops.

Sources: U.S. Forest Service, National Weather Service

A red flag warning issued today expired at 8 p.m. Gusty winds of 25 to 35 miles an hour were predicted and humidities were expected to remain at 10 percent or lower, according to the National Weather Service.

Smoke from the Butler II Fire is cutting a swath across the sky over Nevada and Utah, according to National Environmental, Satellite, Data and Information Service. Satellite maps show the smoke has drifted in a north easterly direction.

The DC 10 made another drop at 6:36 p.m. It hit a ridgeline west of Fawnskin and Big Bear Lake near the dam. Firefighters are still battling spot fires. There is still a heavy air attack going on at this hour. Numerous helicopters to the north and the west of Fawnskin are dropping retardant and aircraft continue attacking the ridges and higher elevations above Big Bear Lake.

Firefighters hAd set a goal to hold the flames south of Lucern Valley and to keep them from spreading down into the valley where flashy fuels - including juniper, sage brush, and buttonwillow - would creat a rapidly moving inferno, fire officials said late Thursday.

Stray embers have been igniting several spot fires outside the forest boundary in the tinder dry brush throughout the day. They were quickly extinguished by water drops, according to fire officials said. A bulldozer trying to clear brush in a rocky area on Lucern Valley's foothills was creating sparks and igniting spot fires that crews quickly extinguished.

DC 10 has made another pass on the fire, one of several today.

U.S. Forest Service firefighters have staged along Rim of World Drive in anticipation of spot fires near Fawnskin. Helicopters continue to make retardant drops in and around Fawnskin. At least ons structure is threatened. But firefighters are facing winds that continue to shift.

Mandatory evacuation remains for Fawnskin while a voluntary evacuation remains in place for Green Valley, Arrowbear, Lucerne Valley and Running Springs.

Tim Tate, public information officer from the San Bernardino County Fire Department, said with the winds pushing the fire to the east, Baldwin Lake could become a concern. He said winds were gusting at 20 mph as of 5 p.m.
Air units are still focusing on making sure that the fire does not jump Highway 18. Tate said firefighters do not expect it to cross the highway.

Fire crews temporarily pulled off fire lines after the flames became erratic are back on the lines, county fire officials said. Sometime around 4 p.m., crews had been pulled off the northeast portion of the Butler 2 fire in Fawnskin after the winds shifted as a precuation, officials said.

The DC-10 dropped retardant at 4:35 p.m. just west of Fawnskin, where
they are anticipating the Butler II Fire to threaten structures.

The DC-10 aircraft could be seen dropping fire retardant near Highway 18 near Fawnskin.

Fire officials ordered 10 additional strike teams to the Fawnskin area, bringing the number of teams to 14, said San Bernardino County fire Capt. Mike Horton. He said the community is not threatened, but the teams were ordered as a precautionary measure.
"With the history of fire in this area, you don't take any chances," Horton said.
Helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft dropped fire retardant on the edges of the community near Rim of the World Drive.

A meeting for residents of Running Springs has been scheduled at 4 p.m. at the Hootman Senior Center 2929 Running Springs School Road.
U.S. Forest Service personnel are scheduled to update members of the community on the Butler 2 Fire and answer questions.
--Gina Tenorio

A team of reporters from the Sun covering the fire were chased out of Holcomb Valley when flames shot up over a ridge and raged in the heavy timber. The reporters were on Holcomb Creek Road between Big Pine Flats and Holcomb Valley about 2:15 p.m. when they heard the fire coming up the hill.
"It sounded like a jet engine," said Sun Assistant Managing Editor Louis Amestoy.

A community meeting regarding the fire is set for 7 p.m. tonight at the Big Bear Lake Performing Arts Center, 39707 Big Bear Blvd., Big Bear Lake. The meeting is to discuss updates on the blaze.

Highway 18 is closed from Running Springs east to Big Bear Dam. Drivers may not access Big Bear from Hwy 18 or from Hwy 330 in San Bernardino, but Hwy 18 is open from Apple Valley. Drivers may also access Big Bear via Highway 38 from the 10 Freeway in Redlands, according to the fire information website www.inciweb.org.

Dozens of firefighters stood by structures on Rim of the World Drive providing structure protection.

David Velazquez stood in his yard at the corner of Zircon and Crystal Creek Roads in Lucerne Valley with his sons 6-year-old son Joshua and 17-year-old David Jr., raking manure while his son Joshua scooped it up.
A thick white band of smoke crowned the mountain ridge behind him. He stood amongst his two horses, two goats and nine pigs that he says he keeps as his pets on his property.
"We've already got plans to get all our animals out," Velazquez said.
He said he was notified last night by telephone and a sheriff's deputy who went around his neighborhood knocking on doors that voluntary evacuations were in effect for his neighborhood.
"We're packed and ready to go at their notice," he said.

While there's a major fire burning to the west and north of Big Bear Lake, life pretty much goes as numerous events were held during the weekend that attracted thousands of tourists.

There will be no school Monday for precautionary measures due to the fire, school officials announced on the Bear Valley Unified School District website.

More than a dozen evacuees were at Big Bear High School, one of three evacuation centers open due to the fire. No one used the shelters overnight and there were no people at the shelters at the Jerry Lewis Community Center in Highland or Victor Valley College, said San Bernardino County spokesman David Wert.

The blaze has crested the ridge south of Crystal Creek Road and is slowly making its way toward Lucerne Valley. Dozens of strike teams are heading to the area.

Firefighters set up shop at Big Bear Airport where they began producing and loading up fire retardant for today's
battle.

A nine-acre brush fire that started Saturday afternoon in the wash area near Oak Glen Road and Second Street has been fully contained and put out.

Calmer overnight winds lured the Butler II wildfire away from Green Valley and toward Lucerne Valley, while hundreds of firefighters continued to battle the 15,433-acre blaze, officials said this morning.

Overnight hundreds of firefighters arrived at the base camp at Snow Valley Ski Resort near Big Bear Lake. It's an unbelievable collection of agencies from around the state.

Some campers fled Hanna Flats campground so quickly they didn't bother to pack up.
A green and white pup tent escaped somehow escaped the flames that licked at the tall trees surrounding site #43. National Forest magazined had blown across the site. Half-drank water jugs lay abandoned. Black shoes still sat by the picnic table.
Eerily, a light in the women's restroom remained on. The flourescent flicker contrasted sharply with the amber glow of brush and hollowed trees that were still smoldering.
Just around the bend, a men's restroom had been reduced to a large pile of embers. The edge of the women's restroom smoldered.
Thick, gray smoke enveloped the forest and blotted out the sun as it disappeared into the haze. Acrid smoke occasionally caused hand crews working along roads to cough.
It was the only sound besides the crack of breaking branches as they fell to the ground.

-- Stacia Glenn

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has issued a state of emergency declaration for the wildfire. This gives local agencies the chance to recoup expenses from the blaze.

Fire officials are cautiously optimistic about quelling the wildfire.
Conditions are improving, and the blaze is not making any major runs as it had earlier in the day.
Winds tonight are expected to be milder than last night.
But officials caution that it could all change quickly.
Forecasters still have listed Sunday as a Red Flag day until the evening hours, meaning the combination of winds and lack of humidity are dangerous.
Temperatures Sunday are predicted to be in the 70s. Winds should be 10-to-20 miles per hour, with bigger gusts in the canyons and ridge-tops. Humidity will be in the single digits, meaning vegetation will burn faster.

Extra police patrols are being sent to Fawnskin to protect homes and business from looters.
No crimes have been reported yet, but several people have called in suspicious vehicles cruising neighborhoods, San Bernardino County Sheriff's deputies said.
-- Stacia Glenn

Fire officials decreased the fire size at their 6 p.m. briefing today, putting the total at 14,000 acres.
But, they were not confident about that figure because it is so smokey.
Earlier in the day, they had said the fire had grown to 18,000 acres.
-- Andrew Silva

Paul Biane, chairman of the county Board of Supervisors, and Chief Administrative Officer Mark Uffer were flown into the fire zone in a San Bernardino County Sheriff's helicopter to witness first hand how all of the agencies are working together.
“Coordination has made a big difference,” Biane said.
He signed an emergency proclamation at 2:30 p.m. today and shipped it off to the state.
If the state declares the Butler 2 fire an emergency, local agencies can be reimbursed for the cost of resources, he said.
Cost of the ongoing fire was unknown.
-- Stacia Glenn

History could repeat itself. Firefighters hope it won't.
Some fire officials are comparing the Butler 2 fire to the Willow Fire of 1999.
Both started in the mountains and burned a direct path to Lucerne Valley.
The Willow Fire started behind Lake Arrrowhead, destroyed 60 homes and scorched more than 63,000 acres before firefighters got a handle on it.
Today, firefighters are working to keep that from happening again, said San Bernardino County Fire Chief Pat Dennen.
-- Stacia Glenn

Clad in a yellow fire jacket, San Bernardino County Fire Chief Pat Dennen is on the move.
He escorted public officials to an awaiting helicopter and then alleviated concerns from politicians by phone before heading to a 6 p.m. briefing.
Concern creases his brow as he speaks of all of the threats to the forest that could fuel the flames.
Years of drought. Bug-killed trees. Record-freezing temperatures that froze crops, brush and trees.
“The conditions in the forest are as dry as they have ever been,” Dennen said.
-- Stacia Glenn

Tom Hornsby was an isolated figure at a picnic table in the North Shore launch ramp parking lot at Big Bear Lake.
Around him was yellow caution tape. A sheriff's helicopter sat 10 feet in front of him.
It is his day off. But don't pity him for being summoned to fly county officials over the fire for a look.
"That's what I do," he said.
Then he flipped a switch, the rotors started whirling and he was gone.
-- Stacia Glenn

There's another fire in our area.
Firefighters are battling a five-acre brush fire near the intersection of Oak Glen Road and Second Street in Yucaipa.
There's no direct threat to homes or other structures from the fire, which was reported at 3:43 p.m., said California Department of Forestry Battalion Chief Mike Sweeney.
"We're starting to make pretty good progress right now," he said.
The fire is in a wash area, and access for the engine companies is a bit difficult. There are 12 engine companies, two hand crews, two helicopters and one bulldozer being used to combat the blaze.
-- Nicole White

Victor Valley Community College has now opened as an evacuation center for Lucerne Valley residents who have evacuated.
Also, the Jerry Lewis Community Center in Highland has opened for displaced residents.

Around 3:45 p.m., Forest Service Battalion Chief David Kelly began arranging to have a dozer line cut around the eastern edge of Green Valley Lake.
“It's quite a ways away," Kelly said of the wildfire. "This is just contingency stuff.”
He also noted a twist of irony. Next week, the community is set to have a fuel-reduction project.
-- Andrew Silva

Rocky Oplinger, the deputy fire chief for the San Bernardino National Forest, and his management team have been requested to take control of leading the firefighting effort, said Jim Wilkins, a Forest Service spokesman. Oplinger manages a Type 1 team, which handles the biggest blazes, giving one more indication of the severity of this wildfire.
They will assume control tomorrow, Wilkins said.
-- Stacia Glenn

Spot fires are breaking out a half-mile ahead of the fire, spurring it onward, fire officials said.
The 10-to-20 mile per hour winds are causing havoc for firefighters, who have contained about 5 percent of the blaze, said Jim Wilkins, a Forest Service spokesman. They also are still struggling with the steep, rugged terrain.
The fire is burning through an area that hasn't seen a fire for 50-to-70 years, Wilkins said. Due to the dryness of the area, the fuel moisture is registering "as dead." he added.
“It basically means there is no plant life," Wilkins said. "It's so dry it doesn't take much, and they vaporize."
-- Stacia Glenn

Few have chosen to seek refuge at Big Bear High School, which has opened its doors as an evacuation center for Fawnskin folks.
Three adults and four children were hunkered down in the gym. The shelter opened at 10 a.m.
"We have more Red Cross people than we do people who need shelter," said Judith McMurphy, a shelter manager for American Red Cross.
Eight Red Cross personnel were present to offer comfort and snacks that had been donated by local businesses.
Many people in this area are weekend residents, McMurphy said, and they headed down the mountain after citizen patrols rolled through endangered neighborhoods, forcing people to leave.
If the number of evacuees remains low, the residents will be put up in mountain hotels for the night.
If more come seeking shelter, cots will be set up in the gym.
-- Stacia Glenn

The DC-10 plane that was converted into a massive firefighting tool has been seen operating in the area throughout the day. The giant tanker can drop 12,000 gallons of retardant in eight seconds, 10 times the amount spewed from a single state S-2 air tanker.
It's an odd-looking sight, still, to see a plane that big flying so low and so slow.
-- Louis Amestoy

Residents are streaming out of Green Valley Lake now that an evacuation order has been issued.
One resident, who declined to give his name, expressed concern because the Butler 2 Fire is coming far closer than when the Old Fire ignited in 2003.
That's the last time Green Valley Lake residents had to evacuate from a fire.
-- Louis Amestoy

Fire officials say the Butler 2 fire has split and grown to 18,000 acres, which is leading to more evacuations.
One arm of the blaze is heading northeast toward Lucerne Valley, and a second is moving west toward Green Valley Lake, said Judi McGuire, a Forest Service spokeswoman.
Voluntary evacuations are being called for in Running Springs east to Arrowbear. Highway 18 has been shut down from Running Springs to the 38.
Rim of the World High School has been set up as a second evacuation center.
-- George Watson

Some low-level fire and smoke remains at Camp Whittle but fire officials were encouraged that they had gotten the area under control.
Firefighters were doing some light backfiring to restrain the blaze from erupting again. They were also spraying down trees and keeping track of the occasional manzanita bush that would sometimes ignite.
While two structures appear to be lost, the main buildings seemed to be fine.
-- Andrew Silva

Fire officials have called for a mandatory evacuation of all of Green Valley Lake.
Eastern portions of the lake area had been evacuated earlier this afternoon.
"It's in immediate danger," said Georgia Smith, a Forest Service spokeswoman. "The fire is heading in that direction."
Smith said she was unsure of where an evacuation center was being opened for displaced residents.
-- George Watson

Captain Steve Mueller of CDF said the work at Camp Whittle is going well. One or two buildings have been lost.
He described the winds as extreme and erratic.
Fuel moistures are extremely low.
Firefighters are working to clear brush and needles and branches.
Visibility is 100 yards because there is "smoke everywhere."
YMCA Camp Whittel is in good shape. The camp is 1.5 miles northwest of Fawnskin.
-- Andrew Silva

AP's take on the Butler 2 Fire
FAWNSKIN -- An out-of-control wildfire in the San Bernardino National Forest burned 4,000 acres of brush and timber Saturday, prompting evacuations and forcing the closure of major roads.
The fire shifted northeast toward a scattered cluster of homes in the Fawnskin area and evacuations have been called near Big Bear Dam north of Highway 38, U.S. Forest Service spokesman Judy McGuire said.
An evacuation center was set up at Big Bear High School in Sugarloaf. It was unclear how many homes were affected.
The Butler 2 fire was reported around 1:30 p.m. Friday, and was fed by winds up to 20 mph. Low humidity helped it grow substantially overnight. McGuire said none of the blaze had been contained.
Voluntary evacuations were called for Lucerne Valley south of the Ptizer Buttes area, McGuire said.
Highway 18 was closed to uphill drivers from the Snow Valley Ski Area to Big Bear Dam, she said. The downhill lanes are open. Highway 38 was shut from Big Bear Lake to Discovery Center.
Fire officials also evacuated the Camp Whittle, Hannah Flats, Big Pine Flats and Ironwood campgrounds.
About 600 firefighters were aided by water drops from helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft as they battled the blaze, which was burning in steep terrain, McGuire said.
The blaze formed a column of smoke so large that its effects were being felt as far away as Las Vegas, according to Forest Service spokesman Steve Smith.
The fire was burning near the site of the first Butler fire, an 85-acre blaze that was sparked by lightning on Sept. 1 in an area west of the lake.
Its cause was under investigation.

Fire officials say they have no containment of the Butler 2 fire.
The wildfire is being managed by the Southern California Interagency Incident Management Team 3. Dave Fiorella, of the Forest Service, is the incident commander.
Winds remain at 20-to-25 miles per hour, and humidity is holding fast at 10 percent.
The firefighter who sustained a minor injury is from the Forest Service, fire officials said.
-- George Watson

A mandatory evacuation is in place from Green Valley Lake Campground to the east side of Green Valley Lake Road. Fire officials are concerned that the wind will change and send the raging blaze toward that community.

The Butler 2 Fire has destroyed a maintenance building at Camp Whittle but the other structures look to be fine.
-- Andrew Silva

Ayman Nakoud, 31, just bought the Fawnskin Market two months ago. He already hung tight through the Butler Fire that burned nearby recently, thanking the rain that helped keep that blaze in check.
But the Butler 2 wildfire had him more on edge.
"This looks bad," Nakoud said. "It's scary, you know."
Like others here, he is packed and ready to leave if it becomes absolutely necessary.
-- Andrew Silva

With mandatory evacuations in place, Barbara Aker, 68, was still offering service at the Gold Pan Coffee Shop in Fawnskin.
It's a cute, rustic place where the walls are covered with photos of celebrities, such as Chuck Norris, Paul Newman and Gene Hackman.
“I am staying until the last possible minute," said the owner of the shop. "I will have food for the firefighters.”
-- Andrew Silva

A firefighter sustained a minor injury when he stepped into a burned out hole, fire officials said. The type of injury was unknown but it was not considered serious. It was not immediately clear which agency the firefighter works for.
-- George Watson

Swirling winds are making conditions too dangerous at Camp Whittle, forcing firefighters to retreat to a safer location, said John Miller, Forest Service spokesman.
-- Andrew Silva

The wildfire is burning northeast of Camp Whittle, essentially flanking the campground, said Tracey Martinez, a county Fire Department spokeswoman.
Firefighters are battling the blaze there, trying to protect the structures at the campsite, she said.
To boost their effort, firefighters have been spraying fire-retardent gel on structures at the campsite and in Big Pine Flats, she added.
The main effort, at the moment, is fighting the fire's eastern progress to protect Fawnskin, said John Miller, a Forest Service spokesman.
The fire has yet to head down the north side of the mountain toward the High Desert, he said.
-- Andrew Silva

Late this morning, George Phillips tried to drive from his home in Big Bear City to help his daughter in Fawnskin but couldn't get through a roadblock.
"It's graduated to the big-time now," Phillips said. "That sucker is spreading."
The wind is blowing more than 25 miles per hour at his house. But he is eight miles from Fawnskin, and "there's not much between here and there to burn."
For now, he is waiting for his daughter and family to arrive.
-- George Watson

A monstrous cloud of light-brown smoke is covering Big Bear Valley. Closer to the ground, the smoke takes on an eerie, orange glow.
The blaze is heading toward the area where the Willow Fire burned years ago. It's not a good situation because that area is covered with young, flashy fuel, an official said
"It's a dynamic situation," said Jim Wilkins, a Forest Services spokesman.
And yet as helicopters are buzzing about, on the west end of Big Bear Lake, folks can be seen fishing and boating.
-- Andrew Silva

A county Sheriff's Department helicopter is buzzing over Fawnskin, announcing that the mandatory evacuation order has been issued.
"The fire is heading this way," the loudspeaker blared from the chopper.
-- Andrew Silva

A Cobra gunship has joined the attack against the Butler 2 fire. The chopper has a laser-range finder so it can pinpoint a spot and call in very precise air drops. It also has an inferred television camera that can see through smoke and send real-time pictures to the command post. It also has a high-quality television camera.
-- Andrew Silva

Lois Lively, 21, Fawnskin, was loading boxes into her pick-up late this morning with her husband, Eric, and some friends.
The most important thing, she said, was ”getting my kitty-cat. She's like my kid."
She has been through a couple of wildfires, she said, but "this is the closest I have seen a fire come. It's a little nerve-wracking."
Eric Lively, 29, said he was trying to figure out what to pack up.
“I don't want to leave,” he said.
-- Andrew Silva

Mandatory evacuations have been called for the Fawnskin area from the Big Bear Dam to The Discovery Center north of Highway 38. An evacuation center has been setup at the Big Bear High School in Sugarloaf.
Voluntary evacuations have been called for Lucerne Valley from Crystal Creek Road on the east to High Road on the west and North to the Ptizer Buttes area.

Highway 18 is closed from Snow Valley Ski Area to Big Bear Dam. Drivers may not access Big Bear from Highway 18 or from Highway 330 in San Bernardino, but Highway 18 is open from Apple Valley. Drivers may also access Big Bear via Highway 38 from I-10 in Redlands.

Fire officials have ordered 11 additional airtankers to support the fire crews on the ground.

Fire officials have ordered a mandatory evacuation of Fawnskin and the states' DC-10 airtanker has made it's first arrival on the scene.