If you are planning to visit Yosemite, you will have to enter the park from the East Side over Tioga Pass, or via Hwy 140 or 41 since Hwy 120 is closed east of Groveland on the west side. Also, the NPS is not allowing traffic to exit the park on 120 west-bound due to the fire.
The fire started last Saturday and as of today (9/22) is 53,000 acres, with only 2% containment. It is being attacked primarily from the air due to steep and inaccessible terrain in the Tuolumne-Clavey River drainage. Evacuations of several areas are in effect and there is an air quality alert for Tuolumne County.
For more info on this, and other fires in CA, please see InciWeb.
As of 8:04 this morning YubaNet reports that the “Rim” fire in Stanislaus National Forest has spread to 105,620 acres and is now burning within Yosemite Park boundaries. Highway 120 remains closed to all inbound and outbound Yosemite National Park traffic. Ferretti Road and Highway 120 to Pine Mountain Drive, Smith Station at Highway 120, Cherry Lake at Highway 120, and Evergreen Road. There also continues to be an evacuation order for evacuation order has been ordered for the area north of Ferretti Road to Elderberry Road. An evacuation advisory has been issued for Pine Mountain Lake. Communities along Ferretti Road from Highway 120 to Pine Mountain Road and Highway 120 at the Yosemite National Park boundary west to Smith station have been evacuated.
Size:125,620 acres
Percent Contained: 5%
Fuels Involved: Brush, Oaks, and Pine
Terrain: Extreme
Growth Potential: Extreme
The smoke from the fire is impacting Lake Tahoe, Reno and Carson City. The smoke plume is generally trending ENE, so the areas of Yosemite Valley and the East Side south of Sonora Pass are not seeing large effects from the Rim fire. Smoke in the lower Foothills is quite nasty in the mornings, but clears out quite well in the afternoon.
More details on road and area closures can be found on the Yosemite NP web site, InciWeb, and YubaNet (Thanks, Sandy)
I've lived in this area a long time and this is the largest fire I've seen here since the Stanislaus Complex in 1987 (145,000 ac). This far will likely be bigger than that, unfortunately.
Anxiously watching the poor firefighters trying their best on this catastrophic burn. Sadly, lots of damage all around and looks like the winds are no aid in bringing things under control anytime soon either.
This fire is now the largest in the Sierra since records have been kept, and its growth continues.
For those of you headed to Yosemite over the labor day weekend be aware that the NPS has closed a section of Hwy 120 from Crane Flat to White Wolf. Here's a note on this from our local news...
"Park Officials say Tamarack Flat and Yosemite Creek Campgrounds, both located along the Tioga Road within the closure, will remain closed during the fire suppression efforts. White Wolf Campground and White Wolf Lodge will remain closed.
The Tioga Road will remain open east of White Wolf to the Tioga Pass Entrance. The Porcupine Flat Campground, the Tuolumne Meadows Campground, and all visitor services within Tuolumne Meadows will remain open."
Smoke from this fire continues to affect Reno, Carson City, the Tahoe basin, and the northern portion of Mono county, as well as Sierra Foothill communities west of the fire.
The Rim Fire is now 219,277 acres or 343 square miles and is still 35% contained. Containment efforts continue with line construction and firing operations. There are nearly 5000 personnel assigned to the fire.
A look at the NWS Satellite imagery shows the plume trending to the SE, but east of the Sierra crest south of Yosemite this afternoon. It appears that the plume is trapped in the thermal belt between the Central Valley floor and the crest.
Incident command is projecting containment on September 20, so it looks like we've got long and smoky times ahead. The interior of the fire will likely continue to burn until the rains come.
I wish I had better news for all of us Sierra junkies.
The Rim Fire is 60% contained, but.has now burned 228,670 acres
Some of the acreage increase is due to firing operations, but fire behavior remains extreme in the south and south-east portions of the fire, and long range spotting is an ongoing issue.
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.
This note regarding Hwy 120 in the Rim fire area was just posted (9/6) on our local news site"
"Groveland, CA -- Caltrans confirms that Highway 120 will re-open between Groveland and Yosemite National Park.
A stretch has been closed since Monday, August 19, when the Rim Fire jumped over Highway 120. Caltrans spokesperson Angela Deprato says the highway will re-open at noon today. She points out that crews have been working 12-14 hour shifts to repair guard rail posts, signs, and remove damaged trees.
1,000 burned out guardrails have been replaced, and 1,800 trees have been removed. Deprato encourages motorists to still use caution when traveling to and from Yosemite, as several firefighters remain in the area.
Cherry Lake Road, Evergreen Road, Old Yosemite Road, Harden Flat and all other secondary roads and trailheads off of SR-120 will remain closed.
SR-120 (Tioga Road) will also remain closed from Crane Flat to White Wolf within Yosemite National Park. Park visitors can access the Tuolumne Meadows area from SR-395 via the parks east entrance at Tioga Pass. "
The Rim Fire is now the third largest fire in California's recorded history.
The fire is listed as 80% contained, and it is up to 246,350 acres.
Discussion
7 repliesThe fire started last Saturday and as of today (9/22) is 53,000 acres, with only 2% containment. It is being attacked primarily from the air due to steep and inaccessible terrain in the Tuolumne-Clavey River drainage. Evacuations of several areas are in effect and there is an air quality alert for Tuolumne County.
For more info on this, and other fires in CA, please see InciWeb.
Be safe out there, everyone!
--P
The best website for up to date information is now http://yubanet.com/CAFires/Rim.php
Size:125,620 acres
Percent Contained: 5%
Fuels Involved: Brush, Oaks, and Pine
Terrain: Extreme
Growth Potential: Extreme
The smoke from the fire is impacting Lake Tahoe, Reno and Carson City. The smoke plume is generally trending ENE, so the areas of Yosemite Valley and the East Side south of Sonora Pass are not seeing large effects from the Rim fire. Smoke in the lower Foothills is quite nasty in the mornings, but clears out quite well in the afternoon.
More details on road and area closures can be found on the Yosemite NP web site, InciWeb, and YubaNet (Thanks, Sandy)
I've lived in this area a long time and this is the largest fire I've seen here since the Stanislaus Complex in 1987 (145,000 ac). This far will likely be bigger than that, unfortunately.
I'll try to keep this thread updated.
--P
Size
187,466 acres
Percent Contained
23%
This fire is now the largest in the Sierra since records have been kept, and its growth continues.
For those of you headed to Yosemite over the labor day weekend be aware that the NPS has closed a section of Hwy 120 from Crane Flat to White Wolf. Here's a note on this from our local news...
"Park Officials say Tamarack Flat and Yosemite Creek Campgrounds, both located along the Tioga Road within the closure, will remain closed during the fire suppression efforts. White Wolf Campground and White Wolf Lodge will remain closed.
The Tioga Road will remain open east of White Wolf to the Tioga Pass Entrance. The Porcupine Flat Campground, the Tuolumne Meadows Campground, and all visitor services within Tuolumne Meadows will remain open."
Smoke from this fire continues to affect Reno, Carson City, the Tahoe basin, and the northern portion of Mono county, as well as Sierra Foothill communities west of the fire.
Be safe out there, everyone,
--P
A look at the NWS Satellite imagery shows the plume trending to the SE, but east of the Sierra crest south of Yosemite this afternoon. It appears that the plume is trapped in the thermal belt between the Central Valley floor and the crest.
Incident command is projecting containment on September 20, so it looks like we've got long and smoky times ahead. The interior of the fire will likely continue to burn until the rains come.
I wish I had better news for all of us Sierra junkies.
Be safe out there, everyone,
--P
The Rim Fire is 60% contained, but.has now burned 228,670 acres
Some of the acreage increase is due to firing operations, but fire behavior remains extreme in the south and south-east portions of the fire, and long range spotting is an ongoing issue.
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.
--P
"Groveland, CA -- Caltrans confirms that Highway 120 will re-open between Groveland and Yosemite National Park.
A stretch has been closed since Monday, August 19, when the Rim Fire jumped over Highway 120. Caltrans spokesperson Angela Deprato says the highway will re-open at noon today. She points out that crews have been working 12-14 hour shifts to repair guard rail posts, signs, and remove damaged trees.
1,000 burned out guardrails have been replaced, and 1,800 trees have been removed. Deprato encourages motorists to still use caution when traveling to and from Yosemite, as several firefighters remain in the area.
Cherry Lake Road, Evergreen Road, Old Yosemite Road, Harden Flat and all other secondary roads and trailheads off of SR-120 will remain closed.
SR-120 (Tioga Road) will also remain closed from Crane Flat to White Wolf within Yosemite National Park. Park visitors can access the Tuolumne Meadows area from SR-395 via the parks east entrance at Tioga Pass. "
The Rim Fire is now the third largest fire in California's recorded history.
The fire is listed as 80% contained, and it is up to 246,350 acres.
--P