Calfire Responds To 275 Wildfires In Past Week

The drought continues to take a toll on wildland in California.

Daniel Berlant with Cal-Fire says the agency responded to 275 new wildfires in the last week.

"Most of those were very small, nobody every heard about them." says Berlant.

But, he says the larger fires, such as the Butts Fire in Napa and Lake counties, and the Monticello Fire in Yolo County, kept more than 2,000 firefighters on the lines during the same week.

The Monticello Fire has scorched more than 6,400 acres and is now 55 percent contained. All evacuations have been lifted.

Berlant says so far this year, Calfire has responded to 3,000 wildfires.

"Over 900 more fires this year compared to last year and we still have several more months of active fire season," says Berlant. "Conditions right now are as dry as we would see them at the end of August, beginning of September." 

The Butts Fire burning in Napa and Lake Counties, southeast of Lake Berryessa, has scorched 4,300 acres since July 1. Cal Fire says full containment of the Butts Fire is expected Tuesday.