Monday, August 26, 2013

Yosemite Wildfire Update: Crews Making Progress on Near-Record Fire

http://bcove.me/qc9j8u0v

TUOLUMNE CITY, Calif. — Crews working to contain one of California's largest ever wildfires had help from the blaze with mysterious beginnings as they made advances overnight against the flames threatening San Francisco's water supply, several towns near Yosemite National Park, and historic giant sequoias.
Containment of the Rim Fire more than doubled to 15 percent, although it was within a mile of Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, the source of San Francisco's famously pure drinking water, officials said Monday.
"Obviously, it's the water supply of the city of San Francisco, so we're paying a lot of attention to that," said Glen Stratton, an operations section chief on the fire.
The fire, which has grown to 234 square miles in size, also posed a threat to giant sequoias in Yosemite National Park. Crews were using sprinklers and lighting fires to clear brush, though the fire remained several miles from the massive trees, Stratton said.
"Breezy, southwest winds are expected on Monday with 15- to 30-mph gusts in the higher terrain," said weather.com meteorologist Chris Dolce. "This will tend to blow the smoke to the north and east of the fire. Mainly dry conditions are expected through Tuesday, however, we cannot rule out the chance of an isolated storm in the highest terrain of the Sierra Nevada mountains."

http://www.weather.com/news/yosemite-wildfire-latest-news-20130826

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