RIM FIRE Burns Nearly 1,000 Km²

RIM FIRE forces more closures in the Stanislaus National Forest

Resembling a war zone, RIM FIRE wildfire had consumed at least 235,841 acres (955km², or 368.50mi²) by September 2, 2013 18:30 PDT.

The Stanislaus National Forest Closure Order for the Rim Fire area has been expanded along the northern end of the fire’s edge, said USFS.

Highway 120 at the Yosemite National Park boundary west to Buck Meadows has been evacuated.

Smoke from the Rim Fire has settled into Yosemite Valley, Wawona, Foresta and other areas, causing air quality impacts. This will persist for the next few days, particularly in the morning hours.

RIM FIRE Fuels Ignite, 9/1/2013. Credit: USFS/ Mike McMillan

Rim Fire Incident Information

• Last Updated: September 2, 2013 18:30 PDT
• Date/Time Started: August 17, 2013 3:25 pm
• Location: 3 miles east of Groveland along Hwy 120
• County: Tuolumne County
• Administrative Unit: Stanislaus National Forest / CAL FIRE Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit
• Acres Burned – Containment: 235,841 acres – 70% contained
• Injuries: 5
• Structures Threatened: 5,506 (4,500 residences, 1,000 outbuildings, 6 commercial
• Structures Destroyed: 111 (11 residences, 97 outbuildings, 3 commercial) – [NOT updated. Editor]
• Cause: Under Investigation

RIM FIRE – Flames Sweep Up Red Pine Tree, 9/1/2013. Credit: USFS/ Mike McMillan

Evacuations

• Highway 120 at the Yosemite National Park boundary west to Buck Meadows has been evacuated. Evacuation centers are at the Mother Lode Fairgrounds in Sonora and at the Greeley Hill Community Center.
• An evacuation advisory remains in effect for Ponderosa Hills and areas east, along the south side of Highway 108 up to Pinecrest.

Road and Forest Closures

• Highway 120 remains closed from Buck Meadows to 1 ½ miles east of White Wolf. Highway 120 east/Tioga Road remains open from 1 ½
• Yosemite National Park has closed Tamarack Flat and Yosemite Creek Campgrounds, both located along Tioga Road. White Wolf Campground and White Wolf Lodge remain closed. The Stanislaus National Forest has issued an area closure for the entire Groveland Ranger District and for the Mi-Wok Ranger District east of Highway 108.

Fire Dept Stats

• Total Fire Personnel: 4,330
• Total Fire Engines: 255
• Total Fire crews: 120
• Total Helicopters: 14
• Total Dozers: 72
• Total Water Tenders: 54

Related Links and Background Info

• Air Quality Alert due to Rim FIRE  September 1, 2013
• RIM FIRE Now 4th Largest Wildfire in California History September 1, 2013
• RIM FIRE Forces New Closures at Yosemite National Park August 25, 2013
• RIM FIRE Crosses into Yosemite National Park August 24, 2013

Air Quality Alert due to Rim FIRE

Shifting winds bring heavy smoke from Rim Fire to California, Nevada, Idaho

Heavy smoke from Rim Fire has filled Yosemite Valley, and much of central California, Nevada and Idaho.

RIM FIRE became the 4th largest wildfire in California history after devouring about 223,000 acres (901km², or 348mi²) on Saturday, including about 6.5 percent of Yosemite’s backcountry, as it targeted two groves of YNP’s very old sequoia trees.

Heavy smoke has obscured scenic views and previously unaffected areas of Yosemite, reports said.

Air Quality Alerts and Dense Smoke Advisories have been issued for multiple counties across a vast region.

The San Joaquin Valley, Mariposa County and Tuolumne County Air Pollution Control Districts have issued an Air Quality Alert due to smoke Impacts from the Rim Fire in Mariposa, Merced, Madera, Fresno, Kings, Tulare, Tuolumne and the valley portion of Kern counties. —NWS

Analyzed Fires and Smoke from Satellite on this ArcIMS server were updated on Sun Sep 1, 2013 @ 03:28:43 UTC. Source: NOAA/NESDIS/SSD

RIM FIRE – fire activity on the South Flank. Photo credit: USFS/Mike McMillan

Related Links

• RIM FIRE Now 4th Largest Wildfire in California History September 1, 2013
• RIM FIRE Forces New Closures at Yosemite National Park August 25, 2013
• RIM FIRE Crosses into Yosemite National Park August 24, 2013