Sept. 12--Gov. Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency in Amador and Calaveras counties after a fast-moving wildfire exploded Friday to 50,000 acres, damaging highways and threatening 6,000 structures.
Thousands of residents were forced to flee their homes as flames moved closer to the Sierra foothill communities of Angels Camp, Westpoint and Railroad Flats.
Because the fire is unpredictable and extremely volatile, Cal Fire Team 1 Incident Cmdr. Phill Veneris urged residents to "stay vigilant and adhere to all evacuation orders."
"You are advised that if you see smoke or fire approaching your community, evacuate the area immediately to a safe location," he said in a statement.
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The Butte fire started Wednesday on Butte Mountain Road, east of Jackson, and exploded this week amid triple-digit heat, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Flames destroyed six structures and two outbuildings and threatened thousands more.
As more than 1,500 firefighters worked overnight to protect homes, flames grew out of control, spreading south and west into California's Gold Country.
Steep hillsides and four years of drought, coupled with high heat, are creating extreme fire behavior, Cal Fire officials say. The Butte fire, they said, "is experiencing unprecedented fire conditions and growth."
Several roads have been closed, including California 26 from Mokelumne Hill to Ridge Road.
In Amador County, the rural town of Pine Grove was evacuated. Residents in the communities of Glencoe and Wilseyville in Calaveras County were asked to leave their homes.
Evacuation centers were set up at Jackson Rancheria Hotel, San Andreas Town Hall and the Calaveras County fairgrounds.
Hot and dry conditions will continue Friday with the temperature expected to peak at 105, said meteorologist Jim Matthews of the National Weather Service in Sacramento.
But weather conditions will shift Saturday.
"The good news is we are expecting less hot weather," he said.
Humidity will slightly increase and temperatures will gradually decrease Saturday, dropping from the low 100s to the high 90s.
By Sunday, clouds are expected to sweep over the fire area and bring temperatures down into the 80s. Matthews said cooler temperatures will roll in next, bringing needed relief for firefighters tackling the blaze.
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UPDATES
4:14 p.m.: This article has been updated with Gov. Jerry Brown's declaring a state of emergency in Amador and Calaveras counties.
2:41 p.m.: This article was updated with new details.
This article was first published at 10:51 a.m.
