Clear
Sponsored By:

Rim Fire Summary Timeline

Sponsored by:
Rim Fire Progression Map 8-29-13
Rim Fire Progression Map 8-29-13

The Rim Fire became the 3rd largest fire in the 80 years of records that Cal Fire kept as of 2013. It burned 257,314 or over square miles and damaged 112 structures. A person caused the fire but charges were later dropped. At its peak, over 5,000 firefighters were battling the Rim Fire which burned around 77,000 acres within Yosemite National Park. More information about the Rim Fire is in the book California’s Rim Fire by B.J. Hansen, Clarke Broadcasting’s News Director. A news story about the book is here.

Photo by: Michael McEvoy
Photo by:
Michael McEvoy

8/17/13 Forest Service spokesperson Jerry Snyder says the Rim Fire continues to burn up a north facing slope of the Clavey River canyon towards Jawbone Ridge. Snyder says it is in an isolated region, and no structures are considered in immediate danger. It is approximately 200 acres.

 

8/18/13 Grew to 250 acres

Photo by: Michael McEvoy
Photo by:
Michael McEvoy

8/19/13 Grew from 450 to 2,500 acres

  • Began at 450 acres “Because of the difficult location, and growth potential, last night the Forest Service brought in an outside South Central Sierra Incident Management Team, similar to what was done with the Power Fire near Pinecrest.”
  • Rim Fire Expands To 450 Acres
Photo by: Michael McEvoy
Photo by:
Michael McEvoy
  • 800 acres: Forest Service Spokesperson Jerry Snyder says, “The fire continues to move up the south slope on the Clavey River drainage. Fixed wing aircraft have been successful in holding the fire to the top of Jawbone Ridge between the Tuolumne River and the Clavey River, but is expected to continue it’s up canyon spread.”
  • Highway 120 closed between Ferretti Road to Cherry Lake Road.
  • 2,500 acres: and an evacuation center is set up at Tioga High School.
  • Afternoon Fire Update

8/20/13 From 4,440 acres to 10,170 to 11,000

Courtesy Photo
Courtesy Photo

8/21/13 The total acreage remains at around 16,200 and there is 5% containment.

8/22/13 The Rim Fire more than doubles to 53,887 acres over night. 58 evacuees at the Sonora Red Cross Center. An Air Quality Alert is issued here.

Photo courtesy U.S. Forest Service
Photo courtesy
U.S. Forest Service

8/24/13 At 125,620 acres, 5% contained or approximately 200 square miles. At least 17 square miles has burned inside Yosemite National Park in a remote area of backcountry. Yosemite is warning hikers to stay out of that region, and has stopped issuing some backcountry permits.

Photo Courtesy of: USFS-Mike McMillan
Photo Courtesy of:
USFS-Mike McMillan

8/27/13 From 180,000 to 184,481 acres

Photo by: James Duff
Photo by:
James Duff

8/29/13 192,737 acres 30% contained, 11 homes have been destroyed, four commercial buildings and 97 outbuildings in the morning. 199,237 acres and 32% contained by the end of the day.

Photo Courtesy of:
USFS-Mike McMilla

8/30/13 From 201,894 acres and its 32% contained with the maximum firefighters on scene for the incident: 4,931 firefighters. By the end of the day 213,414 acres or 333 square miles and 35% contained and 4,844 firefighters.

Photo Courtesy of:
USFS-Mike McMilla
Forest Fire
Photo Courtesy of:
USFS-Mike McMilla

9/1/13

9/3/13 Rim Fire 80% Contained

9/4/13 Rim Fire Numbers Hold

Forest Service Photo

4/2/14 Yosemite Opens Rim Fire Areas

8/8/14 Court Documents Detail Rim Fire Investigation

12/18/14 Researchers Examine Rim Fire Growth

3/31/15 Rim Fire Lawsuit Back In Court (logging)

3/31/15 Motion Filed In Rim Fire Case (investigation into cause of fire)

Photo Courtesy of:
USFS-Mike McMilla

5/1/15 Fiery Reaction To Fed’s Motion to Dismiss Rim Fire ChargesEmerald was accused of accidentally starting the fire in August 2013 while bow hunting. Prosecutors claim that the two witnesses, expected to provide testimony at the trial, recently died. One witness died in a workplace accident in February, and the other, a helicopter pilot, of cardiac arrest in March.

5/27/15 Court Rules In Favor Of Rim Fire Logging134 million board-feet in timber and 22,000 tons of bio-mass sales has been awarded. So far, “Approximately 194 million board-feet have been hauled, and that number reflects the add-ons and bio-mass; there’s still 70 million [board-feet] remaining on the forest [landscape].”

Salvage logging will be completed on only 20% of the Rim Fire footprint, as part of the plan finalized last year.

7/22/15 Supes Ask Feinstein For More Rim Fire Support in three separate letters.

9/22/15 Framing The Case For Rim Fire Resilience Funds

Feedback