RIM FIRE Crosses into Yosemite National Park

UPDATED: Saturday, 24 August 2013 @ 05:00UTC

The 126,000-acre (470 km²) fire continues to grow explosively

RIM FIRE continues to grow explosively burning east and has crossed the Yosemite National Park (YNP) boundary, consuming at least 11,000 acres at the edge of the park by Friday afternoon. The fire also continues burning west toward the community of Pine Mountain Lake.

The blaze is actively growing to the north of the Duckwall area and up Kibbie Ridge, southeast, and east. The fire burned actively throughout the night, said Inciweb.

In the next 24 hours the fire is expected to continue up the Tuolumne River canyon, and continue its spread to the north and east.

The fire continues to increase in size and actively through the day and night. It continues to exhibit very large fire growth due to extremely dry fuels and inaccessible terrain.

Fire behavior was very active today with very rapid rates of spread, running surface fire, torching, passive crowning and long range spotting occurring in most all areas of the fire.

Rim Fire burning up Tuolumne River canyon. Photo credit: Stanislaus National Forest/USFS.

State of Emergency Declared in Tuolumne County

California Gov. Brown declared a state of emergency in Tuolumne County on Thursday due to Rim Fire, one of about 20 fires burning in California. Some 5 dozen major fires are currently burning across the western U.S.

Fire from Hell

Night Photo of The Rim Fire. Photo credit: Stanislaus National Forest/USFS.

Evacuation Advisory for The City of Tuolumne and Ponderosa Hills

Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office has issued an evacuation advisory for the City of Tuolumne and Ponderosa Hills.

The blaze started Saturday August 17, 2013 and as of early Saturday it had consumed at least 125,620 acres, with about 5% containment and 2,672 personnel deployed.

The fire is now threatening at least 4,500 homes, up from 2,500 two days ago, and additional undisclosed number of homes were under mandatory evacuations, as of posting.

Officials have closed Highway 120, one of four access routes to YNP, located about 320 km south of San Francisco. More than 4 million people visit the park annually.

Rim Fire Photo 2. Photo credit: Stanislaus National Forest/USFS.

Related Links

• State of Emergency Declared as Calif. Wildfire Explodes August 23, 2013

• Large Wildfires in the West Burn Homes, Force More Evacuations August 21, 2013
• State of Emergency Declared in 31 Montana Counties due to Wildfires August 20, 2013
• Beaver Creek Fire Consumes 100,000 acres
• “Take Your Essentials Belongings and Pets and GO NOW” August 18, 2013