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Swedes Fire in Butte County rises to 400 acres burned, evacuations underway

The Swedes Fire is burning in Butte County east of Oroville near Swedes Flat Road and Oro Bangor Highway.

BUTTE COUNTY, Calif. — Update: 9:43 p.m.

In an update from Cal Fire Butte Unite/Butte County Fire Department, firefighters have been able to get 10% containment on the Swedes Fire burning east of Oroville.

This marks the first level containment that the fire has seen since breaking out Saturday afternoon. It had grown within hours to 400 acres before air resources were able to slow it down.

Update: 9:07 p.m.

According to the Cal Fire Butte Unit/Butte County Fire Department the Swedes Fire burning in Butte County, east of Oroville, has gained another 100 acres. This brings the total to about 400 acres burned.

"The fire actually got up to 400 acres pretty quickly, and for the last couple hours probably it hasn't really grown significantly in size," said Cal Fire spokesperson Rick Carhart.

Air resources were able to get retardant around the perimeter of the fire, slowing down what had been a quick growth period.

While crews still don’t have a containment number, Carhart says they’ve made good progress on the Swedes Fire. More firefighting resources have been requested for Sunday.

The Butte County Sheriff's Office has issued evacuation orders due to the 400 acre blaze in the following areas:

  • Dear Valley Road from Swedes Flat Road to the end
  • Jernigan Way from Hurleton Swedes Flat Road to the end of Jernigan Way
  • All of Quality Lane
  • Lost Horizon Drive to Oro-Quincy Highway
  • Old Olive Highway to Oro-Quincy Highway
  • Feathervale Drive and Mt. Ida Road and all adjoining roads to the east

Evacuations warnings were issued for the area north of Forbestown Road to include Hurleton Road, Stringtown Road, and all roads that adjoin those roads.

An evacuation shelter is now available at the Oroville Church of the Nazarene, located at 2238 Monte Vista Avenue in Oroville. 

An animal shelter for small animals is availableat the Old County Hospital, located at 2279 Del Oro and Mono Ste. E.

BUTTE COUNTY EMERGENCY RESOURCES:

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*This story was updated to include the opening of evacuation shelters.

Original story:

A fire burning in Butte County has jumped from roughly 25 acres to about at least 300 acres in hours.

The Swedes Fire is currently burning east of Oroville near Swedes Flat Road and Oro Bangor Highway.

Earlier, Cal Fire Butte Unit/Butte County Fire Department tweeted that the south wind was moving the fire to the north and that it was burning in the Wall Fire footprint from 2017.

The Butte County Sheriff's Office has issued evacuation orders due the 300 acre blaze in the following areas:

  • Dear Valley Road from Swedes Flat Road to the end
  • Jernigan Way from Hurleton Swedes Flat Road to the end of Jernigan Way
  • All of Quality Lane
  • Lost Horizon Drive to Oro-Quincy Highway
  • Old Olive Highway to Oro-Quincy Highway
  • Feathervale Drive and Mt. Ida Road and all adjoining roads to the east

Evacuations warnings were issued for the area north of Forbestown Road to include Hurleton Road, Stringtown Road, and all roads that adjoin those roads.

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