Progress in containing Yosemite inferno
Print Edition
Crews are finally making progress against a massive US wildfire burning near Yosemite National Park, fire officials said, and fears that the inferno could disrupt water or power to the city of San Francisco diminished.
While the fire continued to grow in size, containment numbers were up, Glen Stratton, an operations chief on the fire suppression team, said late on Monday.
The fire was 20 percent contained, up from 7 percent hours earlier.
Officials said the fire had grown to about 725.2 square kilometers — up from about 652.6 square kilometers the previous day.
Most of Yosemite, one of the country’s most popular national parks, remained open.
No concerns
Flames lapped at the edge of the main reservoir that supplies San Francisco, but the ash that has been raining onto the reservoir has not sunk as far as the water supply intake valves.
“It looks great out there. No concerns,” Stratton said of the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir.
Nearly 3,700 firefighters battled the wildfire, the biggest on record in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains.
The US Forest Service said the fire was threatening about 4,500 structures and had destroyed at least 23.
Higher humidity was expected yesterday afternoon, which could help dampen the flames, said Matt Mehle, a National Weather Service meteorologist assigned to the fire.
California fire spokesman Daniel Berlant said crews were anticipating cooler temperatures and higher humidity this week that could allow them to gain control of the fire.
Rugged terrain, strong winds and dry conditions have hampered firefighters’ efforts to contain the fire, which began August 17. The cause has not been determined.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
