Thursday, September 26, 2013

RIM fire update 9-26-13 84% containment cost $125 million

Incident Statistics
Acres Burned:                      257,134 (402 square miles)                                              
 Structures 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:                         $125 million                                                                       
 Injuries:                                                         10
                                                                                                                                           
Total Personnel                                             733
 
Fire Update
Stanislaus National Forest and Yosemite National Park Type III teams will be taking over the Rim Fire at 6:00 a.m. on Sept. 27th 2013. The spike camp at Drew Meadow will close today, and the incident command post in Tuolumne City will begin to close Friday. Tomorrow will be the last update.
Fire activity should again be more limited to isolated smoldering today, given cooler temperatures.  Suppression repair continues and crews will be patrolling for any hot spots near containment lines.  Firefighters are monitoring the fire in the Yosemite and Emigrant Wilderness Areas between Cherry Lake and Hetch Hetchy Reservoir.  For a Google map tour with post-fire photographs, go to http://tinyurl.com/rimfirekmz

Public Safety
All roads within the fire area remain closed to the public with the exception of Hwy 120.  Fire personnel and contracted equipment continue to work in the area. Hazards may include rocks and debris in roads, weakened trees and tree limbs that may fall without notice. If you must drive through the fire area do not stop your vehicle, leave the roadway, or enter the burned area on foot. Please use extra caution when driving as logging trucks are using major roads including Highways 108, 120 and 49.

Park and Forest Closures:
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.  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:
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.