Here's the requisite update on the blazing inferno that has engulfed half of Northern California's forests (not exactly) and continues to make headway into Yosemite National Park. Overnight, the growing legion of firefighters battling this thing, who now number 4,500, managed to bring the fire to 30% containment, though it still is pushing east into Yosemite and west along Highway 108.
As of last night, when the total spread hit 300 square miles, the Rim Fire became the sixth biggest wildfire in state history.
Remarkably, only 11 homes have been destroyed, along with about 100 other outbuildings and camps, like Berkeley's Tuolomne Family Camp, which was reduced to ash earlier this week. And, also remarkably, only 4 firefighters have suffered injuries, and none have died.
As the Mercury News reports, the fire was burning 3,000 acres an hour at its peak last week, and that speed has now dwindled to 300 acres an hour, due to calmer winds, humidity, and cooler conditions.
And the fire has reached the Hetch Hetchy watershed, though they're saying water quality for S.F.'s water supply still remains unaffected.
Firefighters are saying that the Rim Fire could be fully contained within two or three weeks. And the cause of the initial fire is still not known. But, unfortunately, for the second straight year, the federal budget for fighting wildfires has already been depleted, and it's only August. Best of luck, Southern California.
[Mercury News]
[Chron]
[LA Times]
