RIM FIRE UPDATE: INCIDENT OVERVIEW, from inciweb.org

Inciweb.org updates are posted usually shortly after the 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. briefing to all incident personnel.

 

Incident Overview

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The Rim Fire Information Lines are operational and staffed 24 hours a day, Sunday through Saturday. Rim Fire Information Lines are: 805-727-4775 and 805-727-4746. If these phone lines are busy, contact the Stanislaus National Forest Supervisor's Office at 209-768-9131 from 8am-8pm or contact the Groveland Ranger Station at 209-962-7825 Ext. 546, staffed from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The Stanislaus National Forest Closure Order for the Rim Fire area has been expanded along the northern end of the fire's edge. Please see the closure announcement and closure area map for more details. Note that the Dodge Ridge Ski Area is still open.
There are currently no mandatory evacuations or evacuation advisories for Mariposa County. An evacuation advisory remains in effect for Ponderosa Hills and areas east, along the south side of Highway 108 up to Pinecrest. 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.
For information concerning air quality information please visit:
For more information visit:
http://www.nps.gov/yose/naturescience/aqmonitoring.htm:
California Smoke Information Blog: http://northcasmoke.blogspot.com/
San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District: http://www.valleyair.org/Home.htm
Mariposa County Air Quality: http://www.mariposacounty.org/index.aspx NID=1356
Tuolumne County Air Pollution Control: (209)533-5174 http://portal.co.tuolumne.ca.us/psp/ps/TUP_AIR_POLL_CONTROL/ENTP/h/ tab=DEFAULT

To see current smoke conditions in Yosemite NP, please visit http://www.nps.gov/yose/photosmultimedia/webcams.htm. 

Fire Update as of September 1, 2013, 6am
Crews completed putting fire line around the spot fire southeast of Pilot Peak, however localized winds last night created new spot fires that will be addressed today. In the northwest, east, and southwest areas crew continue to create direct and indirect line where accessibility and safety allow. Burning operations were in the Hull Creek Drainage. Burning operations are continuing in areas with favorable conditions around Hetch Hetchy and Harden Lake as well as Big Oak Road near Crane Flat. Contingency lines are being reinforced between the fire and the communities of Tuolumne City, Twin Harte, and Long Barn. Mopup is occurring along the southwest corner of the fire from Pine Mountain to Buck Meadows. Today, firefighters will continue with burning operations and strengthening existing lines, as well as structure defense.
·Note there is a website glitch. The estimated containment date for the Rim Fire is September 20, 2013.

Basic Information

Incident Type	Wildfire
Cause	Under Investigation
Date of Origin	Saturday August 17th, 2013 approx. 03:15 PM
Location	Groveland Range District, Stanislaus NF
Incident Commander	Wilkins/lawshe

Current Situation

Total Personnel	4,606
Size	224,777 acres
Percent Contained	45%
Estimated Containment Date	Sunday September 20th, 2013 approx. 12:00 AM
Fuels Involved	Brush, Oaks, and Pine
Fire Behavior	Very active information in the afternoon after the inversion broke. Running surface fire, torching, crowning, and spotting were observed on the fires south and east perimeters. Moderate rates of spread were observed both in advancing surface fire and backing fire on the northern and western fire perimeters. Heavy fuels still continue to experience complete combustion with high probability of combustion.
Significant Events	Good progress was made on containing a 61 acre spot fire southeast of Pilot Peak Lookout. Good progress was made with burnout operations around the Crane Flat Lookout. Mandatory evacuations continue south of HWY 120 towards Yosemite National Park north of the Old Yosemite Road. There is a closure of Tioga Road west of Yosemite Creek Picnic Area. A Stanislaus National Forest closure order is in effect for locations near and in advance of the fire. The evacuation advisory continues for areas east of Highway 108 from Ponderosa Hills north to Pinecrest. Several locations to the west side of Yosemite National Park have also had closures implemented as a result of the fire's spread. Access and difficult terrain remain concerns for crews and equipment. Burnout operations have been temporarily suspended south of Hatch Hetchy Reservoir inside Yosemite National Park while fire behavior analysts and long-term analysts will be assessing possibilites for more direct line construction south of Harden Lake. Significant progress was made on burnout operations between Hells Mountain and Clavey Meadows.

Outlook

Planned Actions	There will be continued direct line construction and plumbing of handlines with Type 1 crews to contain spot fires both southwest and southeast of Pilot Peak Lookout. There will also continued direct and indirect line construction accompanied by burnout oeprations where accessibility and safety allow along the northern and eastern edges of the fire. Burnout operations will continue in the Hull Creek Drainage. There will be reinforcement of contingency lines in advance of the communities of Tuolumne City, Twain Harte, and Long Barn. Mopup and patrol will happen along the southwest edge of the fire. Construction and improvement of contingency lines along Dodge Ridge will continue. The burnout operation on the eastern edge of the fire in Yosemite National Park along the Big Oak Road and Tioga Road will continue as favorable conditions allow. There will also be continued burnout operations near Clavey Meadow. Mop-up and patrol on the central western edge of the fire.
Growth Potential	Extreme
Terrain Difficulty	Extreme
Remarks	Very active fire and extensive spotting continue to hamper suppression efforts and pose risks to firefighters. A signficant utilization and reliance upon aerial resources with heavy air tankers including the VLAT DC-10 and MAFFS is occurring with reinforcement of control lines in advance of the fire's spread, control of spot fires, and slowing the fire's advancement through terrain inaccessible to ground resources to allow time for indirect line construction to be completed. Type 1 helicopters are providing point protection and cooling areas where direct line construction can be achieved safely. The extremely dry fuels, highs winds and potential remain signficant concerns for the fire to advance beyond retardant lines. Approximately 4,500 structures remain threatened in advance of the fire on both the east and west sides. Fire is expected to continue its eastward spread father into the west side of Yosemite National Park east of Aspen Valley. Several residents remain under mandatory evacuation in the Scotts Ridge area south of HWY 120. Due to inaccessible steep terrain and extreme fire behavior suppression efforts on active portions of the fire are being significantly challenged. Heavy reliance on aviation resources has been critical in an effort to slow the fire's progress to allow suppression resources to establish indirect control lines in areas where accessibility and safety can be achieved. The availability of heavy aircraft is pertinent to the success of suppression efforts. Continued warmer and drier weather is forecasted for the next several days, which will elevate control concerns and slow burnout progress. Remotely piloted aircraft is providing realtime visual and infrared intelligence on the fire. Continued unified command with CAL FIRE.

Current Weather

Wind Conditions	15 mph SW
Temperature	80 degrees
Humidity	31%