Emergency responders learn from Sutter Buttes fire

Rachel Rosenbaum/appeal-democrat Capt. Justin De Vorss, firefighter Michael Leonard, firefighter Derek Sweet and engineer Dane Osborn returned from the Carr Fire on Wednesday.

the Sierra crest south of Highway 50 and air quality remains poor, according to the National Weather Service. The Carr, Donnell and Mendocino Complex fires continue to bring smokey conditions. Temperatures are expected to be cooler through Thursday, but will rise above normal late week into the weekend.

“It’s not too much different than what we’ve been experiencing lately,” Daley said. “After this weather system, over the weekend it will be warming up and getting drier.”

He said that goes handin-hand with seeing increased fire activity in Southern California, as the Santa Ana winds start to pick up. The state has the fuels and topography that determines wildfire behavior and dry winds make it that much more challenging.

“I’m fully anticipating being active one way or another between now until the rains come,” Daley said.

Webb shared the same sentiment, saying his personnel are enjoying the brief reprieve before they are inevitably called to respond to Southern California fires. Especially with the number of fatalities

between the Carr and Mendocino fires, officials are

worried about the severity and length of the season.

The Sutter Buttes fire two weeks ago incidentally served as a training exercise for emergency response, officials said.

Sutter County Fire Chief John Shalowitz said responding to the July 31 fire that burned 1,200 acres showed how the county as a whole can improve its communications efforts. “This was an eye-opener,” he said. At a Board of Supervisors study session, he said dispatch was overwhelmed with calls from concerned residents curious about firefighting efforts and whether or not they should leave. Shalowitz commended Sutter County public information officer Chuck Smith for being on scene so quickly, taking pictures and updating the county Facebook page, but said in the future a dedicated hotline for citizens may be helpful.

Shalowitz also referenced Calfire incident command posts, which have social media mediators and multiple public information officers. He said it may also be helpful for “field response PIOS” from surrounding agencies (like the police department or county) to be available in such emergencies.

Though the Sutter Buttes are privately owned, Shalowitz said his department is working to better educate residents to care for their property by keeping fuels cut down.

The Sutter Buttes fire – which caused minor damage to a communications array on the western peak of South Butte – could have cost the county upwards of $2 million, Shalowitz said. Luckily, the county was able to avoid the cost by requesting mutual aid through the state. He told the board it may be worth considering a Calfire agreement for protecting the Buttes, though that, too, comes with upfront costs.

“They’re just ideas to explore,” Shalowitz said in a follow-up interview.

No homes were damaged and there were no injuries in the Sutter Buttes fire. The cause is under investigation. Firefighters from several surrounding communities responded, along with crews from Calfire, Beale Air Force Base and Sacramento County.

– Rachel Rosenbaum