TRUCKEE, Calif. — A woman is facing several charges of arson after she told investigators she intentionally set spot fires, leading to the Butterfield Fire.
Truckee Police said in a Facebook post Thursday afternoon that investigators found the fire was caused by a human, and they later took a woman into custody after finding evidence at the scene.
Her name has not been released yet.
Meanwhile, the TRK-E112 evacuation zone has been split into two zones -- east (TRK-E112A) and west (TRK-E112B). The evacuation order for TRK-E112B has been lifted.
At 2:13 p.m., the Truckee Police Department said forward progress has been stopped as the Butterfield Fire is being held at 12 acres.
Truckee police said crews will be on the scene of the fire through the night.
"Tahoe Truckee Sanitation Agency’s waste water treatment functions were not impacted," police said.
Evacuation map
A map of the evacuations can be viewed HERE.
Fire Map
This wildfire map was created using data from NASA, NGA, USGS and FEMA.
WILDFIRE PREPS
According to Cal Fire, the 2021 fire season started earlier than previous years, but also ended earlier, as well. January 2021 saw just under 1,200 acres burned from nearly 300 wildfires. Fires picked up in the summer when the Dixie Fire burned in five Northern California counties — Butte, Plumas, Shasta, Lassen and Tehama. The Dixie Fire started on July 13 and wasn't contained until Oct. 25, burning nearly 1 million acres. It has since become the second-largest wildfire in state history and the largest non-complex fire.
Overall, 2.5 million acres were burned in 2021 from 8,835 wildfires. Over 3,600 structures were destroyed and 3 people were killed.
If you live in a wildfire-prone zone, Cal Fire suggests creating a defensible space around your home. Defensible space is an area around a building in which vegetation and other debris are completely cleared. At least 100 feet is recommended.
The Department of Homeland Security suggests assembling an emergency kit that has important documents, N95 respirator masks, and supplies to grab with you if you’re forced to leave at a moment’s notice. The agency also suggests signing up for local warning system notifications and knowing your community’s evacuation plans best to prepare yourself and your family in cases of wildfires.
Some counties use Nixle alerts to update residents on severe weather, wildfires, and other news. To sign up, visit www.nixle.com or text your zip code to 888777 to start receiving alerts.
PG&E customers can also subscribe to alerts via text, email, or phone call. If you're a PG&E customer, visit the Profile & Alerts section of your account to register.
What questions do you have about the latest wildfires? If you're impacted by the wildfires, what would you like to know? Text the ABC10 team at (916) 321-3310.
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