State of Emergency Declared as Calif. Wildfire Explodes

UPDATED Friday, 23 August 2013, 02:29UTC

Rim Fire Quadruples in Size

The blaze near Yosemite National Park had grown to about 100 square miles  Thursday and was only 1 percent contained. The fire has so far destroyed at least two homes and seven outbuildings and threatens several thousand homes, hotels and camp buildings.

Fire from Hell

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

Gov. Brown Declares a State of emergency in Tuolumne County due to Rim Fire

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

The emergency proclamation for Tuolumne County states that the massive fire has “damaged homes, and is threatening 2,500 other residences, necessitating the evacuation of residents, and the opening of emergency shelters.”

The fire has also forced thousands of tourists to leave the area during peak season.

Evacuations

The Tuolumne County Sheriffs Office has issued an evacuation order for residents north of Ferretti Road to Elderberry Road. An Evacuation Order is issued when there is an immediate threat to life and/or property. Inciweb reported.

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

Earlier,  the summer community of Pine Mountain Lake, home to about 3,000 people, and three campgrounds along Highway 120–Camp Towanga, Spinning Wheel and Sawmill campgrounds–were evacuated.

The fire started on Saturday August 17th, 2013, in Groveland Range District, Stanislaus National Forest, west of Yosemite. Some 1,849 personnel have been assigned to the blaze.

At least five other wildfires in Yellowstone National Park have consumed about 18 square miles.

“U.S. wildfire managers facing increasingly strained resources have opened talks with Pentagon commanders and Canadian officials about possible reinforcements of personnel and aircraft to battle dozens of blazes raging across the drought-parched American West,” said a report.

Related Links

• 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

Large Wildfires in the West Burn Homes, Force More Evacuations

Wesern U-S: Red Flag Warnings as dangerous fires burn more homes, force more evacuations

Fire crews are tackling several large wildfires in the West as weather conditions continue to remain dangerous through the week, reported NWS. “Strong thunderstorms in this region will create gusty winds that could spread fires, and lightning from these storms could start new fires. The greatest fire danger exists from northern California across the Great Basin to the Northern Rockies.”

Red Flag Warnings in the West, other Warnings, Watches and Advisories for August 21, 2013. Source: NWS. Map enhanced by FIRE-EARTH.

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California Fire forces evacuation of campgrounds, threatens 2,500 homes

Hundreds of people at three Sierra camp–Camp Towanga, Spinning Wheel and Sawmill campgrounds–along Highway 120 were evacuated Tuesday as a fast-moving wildfire raged out of control west of Yosemite National Park, said a report.

The 10,170-acre Rim Fire, which began Saturday August 17, is burning in the Stanislaus National Forest east of Groveland, Tuolumne County. The blaze has destroyed at least two homes and threatens another 2,500, said  the USFS.

Rim Fire Burning Near Groveland Ranger Station. Credit: Stanislaus National Forest/ USFS

The communities along Ferretti Road are being evacuated. The Ferretti Road is also closed at Highway 120. Evacuation centers have been opened at Sonora Fairgrounds and Greely Hill Community Center. The evacuation center at Tiago High School has been closed. [Inciweb]

Rim Fire is one of at least 20 major fires burning in California, as of posting. Fire officials say this year’s wildfire season is particularly dangerous due to the lack of snow, dry weather and drought.

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Beaver Creek Fire:  About 1,200 people still evacuated

The 106,323-acre Beaver Creek Fire is now 30 percent contained and is burning near Hailey and Ketchum. At least 1,750 personnel are trying to bring the flames under control.

About 1,200 people are currently evacuated due to the Beaver Creek Fire, said Blaine County officials. Most of the evacuation orders remain in effect.

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Leavenworth fire grows to 500 acres; dozens of homes evacuated

An uncontained  wildfire burning near Leavenworth in Chelan County, WA,  grew to 500 acres late Tuesday, prompting authorities order 27 homes evacuated, with another 40 put under evacuation notice, said a report.

“Another fire burning outside The Dalles, Ore.,  in the Columbia River Gorge is believed to have burned a third home there (five other structures have also burned), but fire crews also reported progress Tuesday in fighting the blaze that threatens several dozen other homes, a spokesman said.”

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