Evacuation Orders Eased in Parts After Butte Fire

The Butte Fire southeast of Sacramento, California, had scorched more than 71,000 acres by Thursday morning, September 17, but evacuation orders in some parts had been changed to advisories, allowing residents to come in to assess the damage. This footage was shot from Mountain Ranch on September 10 just before the family living there evacuated.

“We have yet to go in and see the devastation,” Kristen Smith said. “But we know the house is gone because my brother-in-law snuck in to see.”

CalFire said that the fire has destroyed more than 250 homes and thousands more in Amador and Calaveres counties are threatened with a blaze only half contained. Two people were killed in the fire. Credit: Instagram/Kristen Smith