RIM fire update 9-24-13

Incident Statistics

Acres Burned:                      257,134 (402 square miles)                                   

tructures Threatened:                                       0

Containment:                        84%                                                                                         

Residences Destroyed:                                       11

Fire Start Date:                      August 17, 2013                                                                   

 Commercial Property Destroyed:                       3

Fire Cause:                            Under Investigation                                                           

 Outbuildings Destroyed:                                    98

Cost to date:                         $123.5 million                                                                        

 Injuries:                                                                  10

                                                                                                                                                 

Total Personnel                                                    1,099

Fire Update

Fire activity should again be more limited to isolated smoldering today.  High temperatures today will be in the 60s and 70s F.  A weak weather front will pass through this evening and tomorrow bringing a slight chance of rain and ridge top winds up to 30 mph this afternoon.  Suppression repair continues. Otherwise, crews will continue to patrol and mop-up some hot spots near containment lines.  Firefighters continue to monitor the continued slow spread of fire in the Yosemite and Emigrant Wilderness Areas between Cherry Lake and Hetch Hetchy Reservoir (the 16% not contained).  For a Google map tour with post-fire photographs, go to http://tinyurl.com/rimfirekmz

Public Safety

Anyone traveling on roads within the fire area should use extreme caution as fire personnel and equipment continue to work in the area.  Hazards include rocks and debris in roads, smoke, weakened trees and snags (that may fall), and hot burning stump holes. If you must drive through the fire area please do not stop, leave the roadway, or enter the burned area on foot.   Please use extra caution when driving as more logging trucks are using major roads including Highways 108, 120 and 49.

Park and Forest Closures

Hwy 120 over Tioga Pass is open; for your safety, visitors are not permitted to stop along the road adjacent to the fire perimeter. The Big Oak Flat Road to Yosemite Valley is open.   Local businesses are open and providing services (gasoline, food and lodging) for travelers.  Evergreen Road is open only to Evergreen Lodge.  Hetch Hetchy and surrounding facilities in Yosemite Park remain closed to public access due to hazardous trees.  Aspen Valley is open to residents only.  Tuolumne Grove and Hodgdon Meadow Campground remain closed due to the fire.  Yosemite Creek and White Wolf Campgrounds, and White Wolf Lodge, are closed for the season.  Merced Grove and Tamarack Flat reopened recently.  The Stanislaus National Forest issued an updated Rim Fire Area Closure (dated September 12, 2013) for the Groveland and Mi-Wok Ranger Districts.  Cherry Lake Road is closed at Hwy 120. Old Yosemite and Harden Flat Roads are closed. Some secondary roads within the fire area remain closed to non-residents.  Additional information is available from the Stanislaus National 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; and Yosemite National Park, 209-372-0200.