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Butte fire at 2600 acres and into Calaveras County

Fire officials said crews were contending with steep terrain and high temperatures.

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Fearful of the potential, multiple resources were assigned to the fire, including 40 personnel and two bulldozers, two air tankers, and a helicopter.

From the latest incident report update: “Fire is burning in the Mokeloumne River drainage”.

What to save and what to leave is a tough decision facing families in Amador and Calaveras counties as the Butte Fire continued to spread Thursday.

The fire began at 2:26 p.m. on the 17700 block of Butte Mountain Road in Jackson, Amador County, Cal Fire said.

KVGS 1340 AM reported at 6:30 p.m. on its Facebook page that power is out to 14,000 customers in Amador and parts of Calaveras County.

A reporter for KCRA captured dramatic video of the fire as they drove near the blaze after it jumped a road and scorched a hillside Thursday, sending clouds of ash and smoke over the highway.

As the fire spreads over a swath of land that includes dry grass, trees and manzanita, residents who live along Amador Lane, Charamuga Ranch and Electra roads have been asked to evacuate.

On Wednesday, when the fire was 3,000 acres smaller, containment was listed at 30 percent.

Original story: 4:57 p.m.

As the fire flared up later in the day, firefighters started to play defense – waiting for reinforcements.

Cal Fire said the fire is expanding in all directions.

Bennett says some structures are threatened, but there are engines in place to guard them.

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The fire was “extremely active” Thursday, making substantial runs up a canyon and fueled by hot winds and high temperatures, a Cal Fire spokesman said.

CREDIT Christina Bianchi