Rim Fire Burning In Yosemite 60 Percent Contained
STANISLAUS NATIONAL FOREST (CBS SF) -- The Rim Fire that has blackened more than 228,000 acres in Stanislaus National Forest is now 60 percent contained but about 4,500 residences remain threatened, Cal Fire officials reported Monday morning.
Firefighters made great progress Sunday night in limiting the spread of the Rim Fire near and in Yosemite National Park, according to officials from Cal Fire, one of the agencies working on the blaze.
The Rim Fire, located within Tuolumne County northeast of Groveland, has burned 228,670 acres, evacuations are in effect and 4,500 homes remain under threat from the flames, Cal Fire officials said.
The fire has affected an area of 357 square miles and though 60 percent contained it is the fourth largest wildfire in California history, Cal Fire officials said.
Cal Fire and local fire agencies were assisting the U.S. Forest Service in fighting the Rim Fire.
About 7,500 firefighters were battling the Rim Fire and six other wildfires in Butte, Tulare, Siskiyou, Humboldt, San Bernardino and Fresno counties, officials said.
Much of Northern California will experience a trend toward cooler temperatures and some rainfall but increased humidity and light winds in Southern California will increase the threat of fires for the next several days, officials said.
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