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This photo taken from a Channel Islands Air National Guard C-130 is provided by Eric Pearson of Pleasanton Military Families.
It provides a “ride-along” look on a mission to fight the Rim Fire near Yosemite National Park as it was burning last Thursday. The fire has created what’s called a pyro cumulous cloud billowing over the Stanislaus National Forest west of Yosemite.
By Bay City News Service
The massive “Rim Fire” in and around Yosemite National Park was 75
percent contained as of Tuesday morning, however the U.S. Forest Service is
estimating the fire will continue burning until later this month.
The fire, which started on Aug. 17 in the Stanislaus National
Forest and spread into Yosemite National Park, has charred 235,841 acres and
destroyed 11 homes and 100 other buildings, according to the forest service.
There have been five injuries reported in connection with the
fire.
Cal Fire officials said the blaze is the fourth largest wildfire
in California history.
As of Tuesday afternoon, all evacuations prompted by the
quick-spreading blaze were lifted as firefighters gained the upper hand on
it.
However a portion of state Highway 120 remains closed near
Yosemite and other road closures should be expected throughout the region.
A lingering concern is smoky conditions and poor air quality as
the fire continues to burn, officials said.
Full containment is not expected until Sept. 20, according to the
forest service.
The Hetch Hetchy Reservoir that provides water to 2.6 million San
Francisco area residents remains unaffected despite ash falling on the water,
with turbidity, or cloudiness, levels below state-mandated levels, according
to the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission.
Two of three hydroelectric powerhouses, the Kirkwood and Holm
turbines, were taken offline on Aug. 19, but today the Kirkwood facility has
resumed providing power after repairs were made over the weekend, according
to PUC officials.
Both facilities were affected by the fire with Kirkwood minimally
damaged, while the Holm Powerhouse sustained a burned roof and the structure
partially collapsed.
Holm is the city’s largest powerhouse and crews are working to get
it back online, however power supplies have not been disrupted since the fire
with Moccasin Powerhouse generating power throughout the blaze, according to
the commission.
Since the shutdowns, the city has spent about $860,000 on
alternative energy sources, according to PUC officials.
Sasha Lekach, Bay City News, contributed to this report.
Sasha Lekach, Bay City News, contributed to this report.
