Here are some of the latest updates on the RIM FIRE
* Yosemite firefighters saved by Army C130s VIDEO HERE About 25 Rim Fire firefighters were saved from dangerously close flames using the latest military technology.
* Thank you to the Firefighters – special VIDEO HERE
Active line map with staged and completed containment efforts for 8/28. By the Southern Area Incident Management Team.Total acres: 184,481
Incident Overview
The Rim Fire Information Lines have been experiencing technical difficulties. We appreciate your patience during these times.
Fire Update as of August 28, 2013
Last night, firefighters conducted a burning operation from Paper Cabin Ridge down to the Tuolumne River and south from Duckwall Mountain to Skidmore. Crews secured fireline around spot fires in Reynolds Creek and dozers worked on constructing fireline north from Duckwall Mountain towards Fahey Meadow. In the southern part of the fire, crews secured the line near Pilot Ridge and near the border of Yosemite National Park. For today if conditions allow, crews are expected to begin a large burning operation from Hetch Hetchy Reservoir south to Tioga Road in Yosemite National Park in an effort to stop the spread of the fire to the east, as well as a burning operation from Highway 120 to Pilot Peak.
Looking across the Tuolumne River on Aug 27, 2013
Photo: Groveland
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 | 4,191 |
|---|---|
| Size | 187,466 acres |
| Percent Contained | 23% |
| Fuels Involved | Brush, Oaks, and Pine |
| Fire Behavior | Fire activity remained active into the late evening but moderated overnight with humidity recovery. |
| Significant Events | Mandatory evacuations south of Highway 120 and north of Old Yosemite Road. Structure defense around Aspen Valley by ground and aerial resources was occurring in the afternoon. An evacuation advisory continues for areas on the Highway 108 corridor from Tuolumne City to Pinecrest. A Forest Closure is in effect for locations near and in advance of the fire. Several locations on the west side of Yosemite National Park have had closures implemented as a result of the fires spread. Contingency planning, indirect line construction and preparation to the east of Highway 108. Access and difficult terrain remain concerns for crews and equipment. Burnout operations were completed along the northwest edge of the fire near Paper Cabin Ridge. |
Outlook
| Planned Actions | Structure defense north and south of hwy 120 along the southeast edge of the fire from Pilot Ridge to Yosemite National Park. Continued direct and indirect line construction accompanied by burnout operations where accessibility and safety allows along the western edge of the fire. Continued contingency line construction along the northern edge of the fire in advance of the communities of Tuolumne City, Twain Harte and Long Barn. Mopup and contingency line construction in the southwestern edge of the fire. Direct line construction with burnout will continue along the northeastern edge of the fire where fire activity and safety allows. Large burnout operations are planned for the southeastern edge of the fire in Yosemite National Park. |
|---|---|
| Growth Potential | Extreme |
| Terrain Difficulty | Extreme |
| Remarks | Rapid fire growth and extreme fire behavior continue to hamper suppression efforts. A significant utilization and reliance upon aerial resources with heavy air tankers including the VLAT DC-10 and MAFFS is occurring with structure defense preparation of locations in advance of the fires spread, control of spot fires and slowing the fires 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.
Approximately 4,500 structures remain threatened in advance of the fire on both the east and west. Several residents remain under mandatory evacuation in the Scotts Ridge area south of highway 120. Evacuation advisories issued to areas from Long Barn north to Pinecrest. 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 fires 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. |
Current Weather
| Wind Conditions | 16 mph SW |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 87 degrees |
| Humidity | 24% |
UPDATE:
The Almanac
by Dave Boyce Almanac Staffhttp://www.almanacnews.com/
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The firefighting crews battling the huge forest fire burning into Yosemite National Park include 66 firefighters from San Mateo County.
Three strike teams — north, central and south county — consist of five engine companies each, or 22 firefighters and five fire engines. The teams left for the fire on Friday, Aug. 23, Woodside Fire Protection District Chief Dan Ghiorso said.
Woodside Fire is represented with one company, but the Menlo Park Fire Protection District is not represented, perhaps due to a shortage of staff, Chief Ghiorso said.
When a firefighting agency deploys firefighters to a remote location, the agency “hires back” off-duty firefighters to fill in the temporary gaps in the local forces, Chief Ghiorso said.
The Redwood City Fire Department, which recently absorbed firefighters from San Carlos, contributed two companies to the south-county strike team, he said.
A team from the San Mateo County Office of Emergency Services deployed early and was already on the scene, he said.
Companies stay together on the job, whether attacking the fire itself, protecting structures or creating fire breaks, Chief Ghiorso said.
The work-schedule goal for firefighters at the scene is roughly 24 hours on, 24 off, but since firefighting tends to cut into the off time, the hours are more like 28 on, 20 off, the chief said.
Every day, the engine-company captain calls the home district or fire department to report on what’s happening, Chief Ghiorso said. So far, there have been no injuries, he said.