Yosemite Fire: One of Biggest, Ever

 Astronaut Karen Nyberg posted the startling fire photo to her Twitter account late August 24. She took the shot from 230 miles above the earth

Astronaut Karen Nyberg posted the startling fire photo to her Twitter account late August 24. She took the shot from 230 miles above the earth

From LAT  One of the biggest fires in CA history.  According to CalFire, it is now, at 15th largest, and nowhere near controlled.  It could easily get to the top 10, though we hope not surpass the biggest on record, 2003 in San Diego County which was over twice as large — 273,246 acres v 133,980 now for the Rim fire.

  • The fast-moving Rim fire has doubled in size since Thursday night and remains only 5% contained, with steep terrain, warm weather and low humidity hampering firefighting efforts. Adding to the difficulty is the blaze’s tendency to burn the tops of trees, creating a “crown fire” with long, intense flames that skip across forested land faster than a wildfire that creeps along near the ground. Assisted by trench-digging bulldozers and water-dropping aircraft, more than 2,600 firefighters were battling the fire.  LAT
  • grew more than 7 square miles overnight as firefighters have gained little ground in slowing it. The fire is threatening thousands of rural homes, as well as San Francisco’s water and energy supply.  On Sunday morning the 207-square-mile inferno was just 7 percent contained. The blaze is covering an area about the size of Chicago.  CBS

 

Inmate firefighters walk along Highway 120.  Crews are clearing brush and setting sprinklers to protect two groves of giant sequoias as a massive week-old wildfire rages along the remote northwest edge of Yosemite National Park. Photo: Jae C. Hong

Inmate firefighters walk along Highway 120. Crews are clearing brush and setting sprinklers to protect two groves of giant sequoias as a massive week-old wildfire rages along the remote northwest edge of Yosemite National Park. Photo: Jae C. Hong

  • State of Emergency declared in San Francisco due to damage to electrical transmission lines in fire; the PUC has already shut down several lines.

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