TUOLUMNE CITY, Calif. (AP) -- Officials
say a massive wildfire burning near Yosemite National Park grew
overnight, but they are still making progress in containing it.
The Rim Fire remained 20 percent contained on Tuesday morning. Officials
said the fire grew to about 280 square miles, up from about 252 square
miles the previous day, but back burning by crews was responsible for at
least part of that increase.
California fire spokesman Daniel Berlant said crews are anticipating
cooler temperatures and higher humidity this week that could allow them
to gain the upper hand.
The fire is threatening thousands of structures, the main reservoir serving San Francisco and historic giant sequoias.
A firefighter stands on top of a fire truck at a campground
destroyed by the Rim Fire near Yosemite National Park, Calif., on
Monday, Aug. 26, 2013. Crews working to contain one of California's
largest-ever wildfires gained some ground Monday against the flames
threatening San Francisco's water supply, several towns near Yosemite
National Park and historic giant sequoias. AP / Jae C. Hong
In this Thursday, Aug. 22, 2013 photo provided by the California
Army National Guard on Monday, Aug. 26, 2013, Sgt. Chris Boni, crew
chief from the 1-140th Aviation Battalion (Air Assault) from Los
Alamitos Joint Training Base (JFTB), releases water to help control the
Rim fire below near Yosemite National Park, Calif. The The UH-60 Black
Hawk Crews are battling the Rim wildfire, one of the largest in
California history, in support of the U.S. Forest Service and CAL FIRE.
California Air National Guard / Master Sgt. Julie Avey
A fire truck drives past burning trees as firefighters continue to
battle the Rim Fire near Yosemite National Park, Calif., on Monday,
Aug. 26, 2013. AP / Jae C. Hong
Sacramento River Fire District Captain Jerry Winters, 61, rests at
base camp before the start of the night shift with Engineer Scott
Stanfield fighting the Rim Fire in the Stanislaus National Forest along
Highway 120 near Yosemite National Park, Calif., Monday, August 26,
2013. The Sacramento Bee / Paul Kitagaki Jr.
Firefighters douse hot spots amid the smoldering ruins of the
Berkeley Tuolumne Camp near Groveland, California, Monday, August 26,
2013. The 1922 village of cabins and a large dining hall on the Tuolumne
River that once served 4000 people annually was almost totally
destroyed by the massive, uncontrolled Rim Fire. All guests had been
evacuated. Los Angeles Times / Don Bartletti
As dawn breaks over the smoke-filled Rim Fire base camp near
Groveland, California, firefighters line up for breakfast on Monday,
August 26, 2013. Los Angeles Times / Don Bartletti
At the Rim fire base camp near Groveland, California, fire
commanders discuss strategy Monday, August 26, 2013, in front of a map
that outlines the 143,980 acres burned. The gray area on the right of
the map is Yosemite National Park. Los Angeles Times / Don Bartletti
A helicopter reloads fire retardant as firefighters continue to
battle the Rim Fire in Tuolumne City, Calif., on Monday, Aug. 26, 2013.
AP / Jae C. Hong
Firefighters pour water on a hot spot at a campground destroyed by
the Rim Fire near Yosemite National Park, Calif., on Monday, Aug. 26,
2013. AP / Jae C. Hong
Firefighter A.J. Tevis watches the flames of the Rim Fire near Yosemite National Park, Calif., on Sunday, Aug. 25, 2013. AP / Jae C. Hong
Firefighter Dusty LaChapelle from El Dorado County Fire Department
moves away from flames from the fast moving Rim fire near Yosemite
National Park, Calif., August 25, 2013. Los Angeles Times / Don Bartletti
A firefighter watches for spot fires during a burnout operation
while battling the Rim Fire near Yosemite National Park, Calif., on
Sunday, Aug. 25, 2013. AP / Jae C. Hong
Inmate firefighters walk along state Highway 120 as firefighters
continue to battle the Rim Fire near Yosemite National Park, Calif., on
Sunday, Aug. 25, 2013. AP / Jae C. Hong
Trees burn in a burnout fire as firefighters continue to battle
the Rim Fire near Yosemite National Park, Calif., on Sunday, Aug. 25,
2013. AP / Jae C. Hong
Trees burn as firefighters continue to battle the Rim Fire near
Yosemite National Park, Calif., on Sunday, Aug. 25, 2013. AP / Jae C. Hong
A helicopter drops water over a hot spot while battling the Rim
Fire near Yosemite National Park, Calif., on Sunday, Aug. 25, 2013. AP / Jae C. Hong
A smoke rises from smoldering trees as firefighters continue to
battle the Rim Fire near Yosemite National Park, Calif., on Sunday, Aug.
25, 2013. AP / Jae C. Hong
Firefighters from Sacramento Metropolitan Fire wait for deployment
orders along Evergreen Road as the Rim fire burns in Yosemite National
Park, Calif., August 25, 2013. Los Angeles Times / Don Bartletti
Mike Sanders, 2nd from left, Rick Jerome, center, and Susan Starr,
far right, watch the Rim fire with other neighbors in front of Starr's
home on Canyon Drive near Tuolumne City, Calif., Sunday, August 25,
2013. Modesto Bee / Jeff Jardine
Firefighters Lee Howard, foreground, of Wartburg, Tenn. and
Charlie Ferris, of Los Angeles, watch a smoke plume from the Rim Fire
near Yosemite National Park, Calif., on Sunday, Aug. 25, 2013. AP / Jae C. Hong
Corinna Loh gets her first look at the remains of a 4-bedroom home
at her family's Spinning Wheel Ranch resort in Tuolumne County on
Saturday, Aug. 24, 2013. San Francisco Chronicle / Paul Chinn
A burned road sign is a reminder of the Rim Fire still burning out
of control in Tuolumne County on Saturday, Aug. 24, 2013. San Francisco Chronicle / Paul Chinn
Alex Candia covers up to avoid breathing smoky air while walking
along Highway 120 in Groveland, Calif. on Saturday, Aug. 24, 2013. The
Rim Fire has scorched over 150 square miles of terrain. San Francisco Chronicle / Paul Chinn
Pinecrest General Store owner Dan Vaughn says that business is
down 90% from normal at this time of year as a result of the Rim Fire
which continues to burn in the Stanislaus National Forest. Vaughn sent
four of his employees home due to the lack of business Saturday Aug. 24,
2013. Modesto Bee / Elias Funez
A trio of Bakersfield firefighters check an updated Rim Fire
incident report map that is posted at the incident command post 7 miles
east of Groveland, after a long hard day of fighting the fire, which
continues to conflagrate uncontrolled in the Stanislaus National Forest
Saturday Aug. 24, 2013. Modesto Bee / Elias Funez
Firefighters chow under a series of tents set up at the Rim Fire
incident command post 7 miles east of Groveland, after a long hard day
of fighting the fire, which continues to conflagrate uncontrolled in the
Stanislaus National Forest Saturday Aug. 24, 2013. Modesto Bee / Elias Funez
A group of Ceres firefighters help each other up a steep
embankment that leads into a canyon in Tuolumne County, California,
Saturday, August 24, 2013. Modesto Bee / Elias Funez
Big Bear firefighter Jon Curtis keeps a close eye on a 'slop over'
fire that jumped Hwy 120 just east of Hardin Flat Road while fighting
the Rim Fire, which continues to burn uncontrolled in the Stanislaus
National Forest Saturday Aug. 24, 2013. Modesto Bee / Elias Funez
Firefighter John Curtis, of Big Bear, Calif., watches the Rim Fire
burn near Yosemite National Park, Calif., on Saturday, Aug. 24, 2013. AP / Jae C. Hong
Big Bear firefighter Jon Curtis keeps a close eye on a 'slop over'
fire that jumped Hwy 120 just east of Hardin Flat Road while fighting
the Rim Fire, which continues to burn uncontrolled in the Stanislaus
National Forest Saturday Aug. 24, 2013. Modesto Bee / Elias Funez
Firefighters walk toward their trucks as the Rim Fire continues to
burn near Yosemite National Park, Calif., on Saturday, Aug. 24, 2013. AP / Jae C. Hong
Andrew Sloan packs up belongings for a family friend as the Rim
Fire threatens the small town of Tuolumne, Calif, Friday Aug. 23, 2013.
Modesto Bee / Andy Alfaro
A DC-10 makes a drop of fire retardant over the Rim Fire east of
Ferretti Road in the Stanislaus National Forest Thursday, Aug. 22, 2013,
in Calif. Modesto Bee / Andy Alfaro
Colorado Rural Protection firefighter Molly McGee fights the Rim
Fire in the Stanislaus National Forest in California, Thursday, August
22, 2013. Modesto Bee / Andy Alfaro
U.S. Forest Service firefighter moves away from a quickly moving
section of the Rim Fire in the Stanislaus National Forest in California,
Tuesday August 20, 2013. ( Modesto Bee / Andy Alfaro