The cost to battle the blaze has surpassed $60 million. The fire is now the 4th largest in California's recorded history. As of this evening, 5,069 firefighters are on scene.
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Tuolumne County, CA -- The Tuolumne County Sheriff's Office is closing off one road and the forest service is closing others tomorrow due to heavy activity from the Rim Fire.
Sheriff's Spokesperson Scott Johnson says the closure tonight is Crabtree Road at Highway 108. He says it comes at the request of the U.S. Forest Service. The CHP will block off the road to the public and only residents and fire personnel are allowed in the area.
Starting tomorrow the Stanislaus National Forest will close public access to Gianelli and Pine Valley trail heads; and the Gooseberry Road (4N35). Forest Officials say Dodge Ridge Ski Area is within the closure area, but will remain open for public access via Pinecrest Lake Road. All recreation activities will remain open in the Pinecrest area.
In Tuolumne County, evacuation advisories remain for the south side of the Highway 108 corridor from North Tuolumne Road to Pinecrest. Ponderosa Hills is still under an advisory and it is off limits to the public with only residents and fire personnel being allowed into that area.
In Mariposa County, Sheriff's Official this afternoon lifted some of the mandatory evacuations there. The sections no longer under the order are north and south of Bull Creek Road to Little Grizzly Mountain. A Mandatory Evacuation remains in effect for residences north of Old Yosemite Road (Forest Road 2S01). An Evacuation Warning is still in effect for all residences along Bondurant Mine Road, Texas Hill Road, and Wampum Hill.
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Sonora, CA -- You will get a busy signal if you try calling the Rim Fire Hotline in Tuolumne County.
Tracie Riggs of the Tuolumne County Office of Emergency Services reports they have deactivated the community information lines; dispatch is taking all phone calls. However, they say it is important for people to only call 911 or dispatch for emergency needs.
The county set up the hotline a couple of days into the Rim Fire. They say it was needed as 911 dispatchers were getting flooded with calls from people in the region with questions and concerns.
Riggs say they have volunteers on standby in the event they would need to reactivate the lines.
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INCIDENT UPDATED 3 HRS. AGO
Approximate Location
37.857 latitude, -120.086 longitude
Incident Overview
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.
To see current smoke conditions in Yosemite NP, please visit http://www.nps.gov/yose/photosmultimedia/webcams.htm.
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.
Fire Update as of August 31, 2013, 6pm
Good progress was made on containing the spot fire in the southern region of the fire. Moderate fire behavior was observed where fire was burning from ridgetops downslope. Burning operations commenced between Hells Mountain and Clavey Meadow. Burning operations continued along Tioga Road near Crane Flat and in the Hetch Hetchy area. Completion of burnout operations were done in between Big Oak Station and Hazel Green Ranch. The fire movement is advancing to the east further into Yosemite National Park’s Aspen Valley and Cottonwood Meadow. Natural Barriers are limiting the spread to the northeast near Lake Eleanor.
·Note there is a website glitch. The estimated containment date for the Rim Fire is September 20, 2013.
To see current smoke conditions in Yosemite NP, please visit http://www.nps.gov/yose/photosmultimedia/webcams.htm.
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.
Fire Update as of August 31, 2013, 6pm
Good progress was made on containing the spot fire in the southern region of the fire. Moderate fire behavior was observed where fire was burning from ridgetops downslope. Burning operations commenced between Hells Mountain and Clavey Meadow. Burning operations continued along Tioga Road near Crane Flat and in the Hetch Hetchy area. Completion of burnout operations were done in between Big Oak Station and Hazel Green Ranch. The fire movement is advancing to the east further into Yosemite National Park’s Aspen Valley and Cottonwood Meadow. Natural Barriers are limiting the spread to the northeast near Lake Eleanor.
·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 | 5,069 |
|---|---|
| Size | 222,777 acres |
| Percent Contained | 40% |
| Estimated Containment Date | Sunday September 20th, 2013 approx. 12:00 AM |
| Fuels Involved | Brush, Oaks, and Pine |
| Fire Behavior | Active fire behavior on the south and east sides of the fire today with running surface fire and group tree torching with some spotting. Moderate fire behavior with backing fire observed where fire was burning from ridgetops downslope. |
| Significant Events | Good progress was made on containing the spot fire on the southeast side of the fireline southeast of Pilot Peak Lookout. Burnout operations were completed near the same area between Big Oak Station to Hazel Green Ranch. Good progress was also 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. The mandatory evacuations north and south of Bull Creek Road to Grizzly Mountain have been lifted. There is a closure of Tioga Road west of Yosemite Creek Picnic Area. There has also been an expansion on the north end of the closure area on the Stanislaus National Forest in the Rim Fire area (see Closure Order and Closure Area Map). The evacuation advisory continues for areas east of Highway 108 from Ponderosa Hills north to Pinecrest. Several locations o 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 continued slowly south of Hatch Hetchy Reservoir inside Yosemite National Park. Burnout operations were initiated 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 the spot fire southeast of Pilot Peak Lookout. 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 be attempted 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. Contingency line construction will take place on the western and southern edges of the fire. Continued construction and improvement of contingency lines along Dodge Ridge will happen. A burnout operation is planned for the eastern edge of the fire in Yosemite National Park between the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir and Harden Lake and along the Big Oak Road near Crane Flat as favorable conditions allow. Burnout operations on the northern edge of the fire between Hells Mountain and Clavey Meadows will continue. |
|---|---|
| Growth Potential | Extreme |
| Terrain Difficulty | Extreme |
| Remarks | Very
active fire and extensive spotting continue to hamper suppression
efforts. 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 | 18 mph W |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 88 degrees |
| Humidity | 18% |
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Rim Fier Update #25--August 31, 2013 6:30pm
Incident: Rim Fire WildfireReleased: 4 hrs. ago
RIM FIRE INFORMATION
Update #25
Release for Saturday, August 31, 2013/Time: 6:30 PM
Incident StaticsAcres Burned: 222,777 (348 square miles)
Structures Threatened: 4,500
Containment: 40%
Residences Destroyed: 11
Fire Start Date: August 17, 2013
Commercial Property Destroyed: 3
Fire Cause: Under Investigation
Outbuildings Destroyed: 97
Cost to date: $60 million
Injuries: 5
Total Personnel: 5,069
Fire Update
Good progress was made on containing the spot fire in the southern region of the fire. Moderate fire behavior was observed where fire was burning from ridgetops downslope. Burning operations commenced between Hells Mountain and Clavey Meadow. Burning operations continued along Tioga Road near Crane Flat and in the Hetch Hetchy area. Completion of burnout operations were done in between Big Oak Station and Hazel Green Ranch. The fire movement is advancing to the east further into Yosemite National Park’s Aspen Valley and Cottonwood Meadow. Natural Barriers are limiting the spread to the northeast near Lake Eleanor.
Park and Forest Closures
The Stanislaus National Forest has expanded the area closure for the Mi-Wok Ranger District on the northern end and the entire Groveland Ranger District. Additional details are available from the Stanislaus Forest Supervisor's Office, 209-532-3671; Mi-Wok Ranger Station, (209) 586-3234; Summit Ranger Station, 209-965-3434; and Groveland Ranger Station, 209-962-7825.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.
Road 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 miles east of White Wolf to the Tioga Pass entrance. Cherry Lake Road is closed at Highway 120. Evergreen Road and Old Yosemite Road are also closed. Highway 120 from Ferretti Road to Buck Meadows remains open for local residents and businesses only.
Evacuations and Advisories
The Mariposa County Sherriff lifted the Mandatory Evacuation along Old Yosemite Road to include areas North and South of Bull Creek Road to Little Grizzly Mountain. An evacuation advisory remains in effect for Ponderosa Hills and areas east, along the south side of Highway 108 up to Pinecrest. An Evacuation Warning has been issued for all residences of Bondurant Mine Road, Texas Hill Road, and Wampum Hill. 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.
For more information or if you have questions, please contact the Rim Fire at 805-727-4775 or 805-727-4746 and Tuolumne City Rim Fire Information at 209-928-1059. If you have questions about Yosemite National Park call 209-372-0327 or 209-372-0329. Updated information is also available at http://www.inciweb.org/incident/3660/. All media are requested to report to the Incident Command Post to check in with the Public Information Officers.
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Stanislaus National Forest Rim Fire Closure, August 31, 2013
Incident: Rim Fire WildfireReleased: 4 hrs. ago
Order No. STF 2013-10
Rim Fire Closure
Stanislaus National Forest
Pursuant
to 16 USC 551 and 36 CFR 261.50(a) and (b), and to provide for public
safety, the following acts are prohibited within the Stanislaus National
Forest. This Order is effective from September 1, 2013 until the Rim
Fire is declared out.1. Going into or being upon any National Forest System land within the Rim Fire Closure Area. The Rim Fire Closure Area boundary begins at the southeast corner of the Stanislaus National Forest boundary at its intersection with the Yosemite National Park boundary and the Merced River, then continues west along the southern and western edge of the forest's congressional boundary to its intersection with State Highway 108, then continues northeast along State Highway 108 to its intersection with Forest Road No. 4N26, then continues northeast along Forest Road No. 4N26 to its intersection with Forest Road No. 4N06Y, then continues northwest along Forest Road No.4N06Y to its intersection with Forest Road No. 4N35, then continues northeast along Forest Road No. 4N35 to its intersection with Forest RoadNo. 4N34, then continues east along Forest Road 4N34 to its intersection with Forest Trail No. 20E14, then continues east along Forest Trail No. 20E14 to the Emigrant Wilderness boundary, then continues south along the Emigrant Wilderness boundary to its intersection with the Mi-Wok and Summit Ranger District boundary line, then continues east along the Mi-Wok and Summit Ranger District boundary line to its intersection with the Groveland, Mi-Wok, and Summit Ranger District boundary line, then continues east along the Groveland and Summit Ranger District boundary line to its intersection with the forest's congressional boundary, then continues south along the forest's congressional boundary back to the starting point, as shown on the attached map. 36 CFR 261.53(e).
2. Being on any National Forest System road within the Rim Fire Closure Area, as shown on the attached map. 36 CFR 261.54(e).
Pursuant to 36 CFR 261.50(e), the following persons are exempt from this Order:
1. Persons with a permit from the Forest Service specifically authorizing the otherwise prohibited actor omission.
2. Any Federal, State, or local officer or member of an organized rescue or fire fighting force in the performance of an official duty.
These prohibitions are in addition to the general prohibitions contained in 36 CFR Part 261, Subpart A.
A violation of these prohibitions is punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000 for an individual or $10,000 for an organization, or imprisonment for not more than six months, or both. 16 USC 551 and 18 USC 3559, 3571, and 3581.
Executed in Sonora, California, this 31st day of August, 2013.
SUSAN SKALSKI Forest Supervisor Stanislaus National Forest
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Rim Fire Fact Sheet, August 31, 2013
Incident: Rim Fire WildfireReleased: 6 hrs. ago
Rim Fire Fact Sheet
31 August 2013
Day 15
Acreage: 219,277
Largest fire in the United States to date in 2013·
No. 1-ranked on national firefighting priority list
Fifth largest fire in California history
·Second largest to date in 2013: Lime Hills Fire, Alaska 201,809 acres
Personnel currently on incident:4,995
States that have sent firefighters or other personnel: 41 and the District of Columbia
Cal Fire geographical units that have sent personnel: 20 of 21
Uncontrolled fire edge: 107.4 miles
Completed containment line: 66.1 miles
Completed dozer line: 139.9 miles Proposed dozer line: 30.3 miles
Completed hand line: 5 miles Road as completed line: 16.3 miles.
Acreage in Stanislas National Forest: 156,185
Proportion of the fire burning within Stanislaus National Forest: 71.2 percent
Acreage in Yosemite National Park: 60,185
Proportion of the fire burning in Yosemite National Park: 27.5 percent
Acreage of state and private property: 2,907
Proportion of the fire burning on state and private property: 1.3 percent
Proportion of the Stanislaus National Forest within the fire perimeter: 17.4 percent
Proportion of Yosemite National Park within the fire perimeter: 7.9 percent
Size of the fire area:
Larger than the land area of San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose combined
Pounds of firefighter laundry washed:
10,534
Burned or damaged trees adjacent to power lines removed by Pacific Gas and Electric:
4,929
Remain diligent Friends and be safe!
