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Sign posted Sunday along U.S. 395 in the Eastern Sierra community of Lee Vining. LA Observed photo.
* Monday morning 9-2 update: Now 60 percent contained at 228,670 acres.
Original post:
The Rim fire smoke lifted from the Eastern Sierra today after laying down over the Mammoth Lakes area on Saturday. But on Sunday smoke became an issue in Yosemite Valley, in the Wawona area of the park and in Foresta. The fire that began west of Yosemite National Park has burned 224,777 acres (or 351 square miles) as of tonight. Crews have the wildfire 45 percent contained, and with more favorable weather and wind conditions are predicting full containment on Sept. 20. Within the fire zone the flames may burn until first snow or a heavy rainfall.
Here's the latest fact sheet from the incident command post, posted about 20 minutes ago. This is what the reporters and listicle makers work from.
1 September 2013
Day 16
Acreage: 222,777
Square miles: 348.1
Largest wildfire in the United States to date in 2013
(Second largest to date in 2013: Lime Hills Fire, Alaska 201,809 acres)
No. 1-ranked on national wildland firefighting priority list
Fourth largest California wildfire in records dating to 1932
The four largest recorded California wildfires have all occurred since 2003
Personnel currently on incident: 5,115
States that have sent firefighters or other personnel: 42 and the District of Columbia
Cal Fire geographical units that have sent personnel: 20 of 21
Completed containment line: 96.7 miles
Completed dozer line: 139.9 miles
Hand line: 5 miles
Road Used as Line: 17.1 miles
Total acres burned in California to date in 2013: 487,921
Rim Fire acres as a proportion of burned acres in California: 45.7 percent
Fire retardant dropped: 1.7 million gallons
Water dropped: 1.4 million gallons
Acreage in Yosemite National Park: 60,214
Proportion of the fire burning in Yosemite National Park: 27 percent
Proportion of Yosemite National Park within the fire perimeter: 7.9 percent
Size of the fire area: More than five times the size of Washington, D.C.
Hot meals served: Breakfasts: 36,766 Dinners: 34,395
Pounds of firefighter laundry washed: 11,643
