Yosemite Wildfire Grows to Seventh Largest in State's History

By Jillian MacMath, AccuWeather.com Staff Writer

August 29,2013; 8:47PM,EDT

 

 

Inmate firefighters walk along Highway 120 as firefighters continue to battle the Rim Fire near Yosemite National Park, Calif., on Sunday, Aug. 25, 2013. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
One of the nearly 50 large fires burning across the nation, the massive Rim fire continues to burn along the edge of the popular tourist destination of Yosemite National Park.
The fire, named the Rim Fire, is burning in Tuolumne County, near Groveland along Highway 120. It has consumed more than 192,000 acres since its start on Aug. 17 becoming the seventh largest wildfire in the state's history and still has extreme growth potential, according to the governmental Incident Information System.
More than 4,800 personnel are working to battle the blaze that was only 30 percent contained as of Thursday. The cause remains under investigation.
As visitors began to inquire about closures, visibility and conditions on Facebook, the National Park Service has issued several posts and created a website with more information for visitors.
"Most of Yosemite National Park is not affected by the fire and is relatively smoke-free. The northern part of the park, including some areas along the Tioga Road, has some smoke," the website read on Aug. 28.
RELATED:
Forecast Temperature Maps
Ivo Brings Major Flash Flood Threat to Las Vegas, Phoenix
California Interactive Radar
Mandatory evacuations for residents south of Highway 120 and north of Old Yosemite Road are still in effect. Evacuation advisories continue for Tuolumne City and nearby areas along the Highway 108 corridor.
As extinguishing efforts continue, the city of San Francisco is under a local State of Emergency to assist firefighting coordination.
More than 2.6 million people in the Bay Area receive water from the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir in Yosemite.
"This declaration will help San Francisco increase coordination and manage resources being deployed to support our local, federal and state partners who are fighting this fire," San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee said in a press release.
According to the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission website, water quality is not being affected by the Rim Fire and water delivery is not being interrupted.
Their website also states that the fire has forced two of the three hydroelectric powerhouses that helps generate power for the city to be taken offline. However, delivery of electricity has not been impacted.
Because of the potential threat to the electrical and water supplies, California Gov. Jerry Brown also declared states of emergency in San Francisco and San Francisco County.
Though a recent Facebook update by the National Park Service states that Yosemite Valley and most of Yosemite has good visibility, dense smoke is pouring out of the area.

Satellite images reveal it has traveled as far as eastern Oregon and extreme western Idaho, passing over Reno, Nev.
Gusty winds can hamper the containment effort by fanning the flames and allowing the blaze to spread further.
Following an increase in thunderstorms across portions of the Southwest from Ivo early this week, tropical moisture from Fernand and in part Juliette may fuel thunderstorms into Labor Day weekend. Most of the moisture will be well to the south and west of the Rim Fire.
Any rainfall would be beneficial, but the lightning and gusty winds accompanying any thunderstorm could hinder firefighting efforts.