Yosemite wildfire grows, threatens reservoir, power station - CNN

[Diablo]

• The Rim Fire has burned more than 160,000 acres in California
• A top priority is stopping the fire from spreading further in Yosemite National Park
• Evacuating residents say they're worried about their homes
• Official: "We're going to do everything in our power to protect" Yosemite

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Yosemite National Park, California (CNN) -- The numbers are staggering and the prospects are absolutely scary as a massive California wildfire menaces Yosemite National Park.
The Rim Fire, which has devoured nearly 161,000 acres, is also threatening San Francisco's key water and power sources.
"There's a lot of concern, and there's a lot of work to be done," U.S. Forest Service spokesman Lee Bentley said.

A firefighter stands on top of a fire truck at a campground destroyed by the Rim Fire near Yosemite National Park in California on Monday, August 26. The massive wildfire grew on Monday to become the 13th largest in state history, state fire authorities said.

A burned SUV sits in front of a campground destroyed by the fire near Yosemite National Park on August 26.

Flames from the Rim Fire destroy trees on Sunday, August 25, near Groveland, California. The fire had consumed nearly 134,000 acres as of Sunday.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service firefighter Corey Adams sits on a tree stump as he monitors the Rim Fire near Groveland on August 25.

Fierce flames from the Rim Fire burn near Groveland, which is near Yosemite National Park.

U.S. Forest Service firefighters take a break from battling the Rim Fire at Camp Mather on August 25.

Trees burned by the Rim Fire stand charred on August 25 in Yosemite National Park.

A burned car sits on the side of the road near Groveland on August 25.

A Cal Fire firefighter monitors the Rim Fire as it burns through a stand of trees near Groveland on August 25.

A firefighter douses flames of the Rim Fire in Groveland, near Yosemite National Park, on Saturday, August 24.

The Rim Fire burns just outside Yosemite on August 24. A top priority is stopping the fire from spreading further into the national park.

Smoke and flames move along a ridge just outside Yosemite National Park on August 24.

El Dorado Hills firefighters work to douse a hotspot in Yosemite National Park on August 24. Nearly 3,000 firefighters are attempting to bring the fast-moving fire under control.

A firefighter douses a spot fire, as he battles the Rim Fire near Yosemite National Park in California.

Firefighters move in to douse a spot fire on August 24.

A cow walks through a section of forest that was scorched by the Rim Fire outside of Camp Mather on August 24, near Groveland, California.

A truck sits scorched outside of Yosemite National Park on August 24.

Some 2,600 of firefighters were battling the out-of-control Rim Fire on August 24.

Smoke and flame blot out the horizon as the Rim Fire approaches Yosemite Lake near Groveland, California on Friday, August 23.

Charred siding is all that remains of a building consumed by the fire.

Flames eat up trees as the fire continues to burn out of control on August 23.

A coyote walks across U.S. Highway 120, shut down due to the fire, near Groveland, California, on August 23.

Smoke from the Rim Fire is seen near Hardin Flat outside Yosemite National Park on August 23.

A firefighting crew puts out a spot fire that jumped a fire line in Yosemite National Park on August 23.

The fire approaches the border of Yosemite National Park on August 23.

Giant plumes of smoke rise up from the Rim Fire near the border of Yosemite National Park on August 23.

A firefighter from Cosumnes Fire Department monitors a back fire while battling the Rim Fire on August 22, in Groveland, California.

The Rim Fire has burned 105,620 acres, spreading from Stanislaus National Forest to part of Yosemite, Forest Service on Friday, August 23, spokesman Bjorn Fredrickson said.

An air tanker drops fire retardant on a ridge ahead of the advancing Rim Fire on August 22, in Groveland, California. The Rim Fire continues to burn out of control and has entered Yosemite National Park.

A firefighter from the Colorado-based South Arkansas Fire District carries a hose as he monitors the Rim Fire on August 22, in Groveland, California.

Los Angeles County firefighters hike in on a fire line on the Rim Fire near Groveland, California, on August 22.

A Tuolumne County sheriff's deputy looks at an incident map of the Rim Fire on August 22, in Groveland, California.

The Rim Fire burns close to Groveland Ranger Station near Yosemite National Park, California, on August 22.

A Marin County firefighter works to put out a spot fire that jumped a fire line on the Rim Fire near Groveland, California, August 22.

Sunlight filters through smoke in a grove of trees burned by the Rim Fire on August 22, in Groveland, California.

Smoke from the Rim Fire is visible near the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir on August 22, in Yosemite National Park, California. The Rim Fire continues to burn out of control and entered Yosemite National Park on Friday.


Rim Fire enters Yosemite National Park
Rim Fire enters Yosemite National Park
Rim Fire enters Yosemite National Park
Rim Fire enters Yosemite National Park
Rim Fire enters Yosemite National Park
Rim Fire enters Yosemite National Park
Rim Fire enters Yosemite National Park
Rim Fire enters Yosemite National Park
Rim Fire enters Yosemite National Park
Rim Fire enters Yosemite National Park
Rim Fire enters Yosemite National Park
Rim Fire enters Yosemite National Park
Rim Fire enters Yosemite National Park
Rim Fire enters Yosemite National Park
Rim Fire enters Yosemite National Park
Rim Fire enters Yosemite National Park
Rim Fire enters Yosemite National Park
Rim Fire enters Yosemite National Park
Rim Fire enters Yosemite National Park
Rim Fire enters Yosemite National Park
Rim Fire enters Yosemite National Park
Rim Fire enters Yosemite National Park
Rim Fire enters Yosemite National Park
Rim Fire enters Yosemite National Park
Rim Fire enters Yosemite National Park
Rim Fire enters Yosemite National Park
Rim Fire enters Yosemite National Park
Rim Fire enters Yosemite National Park
Rim Fire enters Yosemite National Park
Rim Fire enters Yosemite National Park
Rim Fire enters Yosemite National Park
Rim Fire enters Yosemite National Park
Rim Fire enters Yosemite National Park
Rim Fire enters Yosemite National Park
Rim Fire enters Yosemite National Park
Rim Fire enters Yosemite National Park

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Rim Fire enters Yosemite National Park


The wildfire, which was 20% contained Monday night, was spreading primarily to the east and threatened to grow amid extremely dry conditions and hot weather.
As many as 20 helicopters and air tankers were aiding the efforts of 3,600 firefighters.
The fire continued to spread Monday toward a key part of San Francisco's water supply: the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, which lies within Yosemite and is just east of the flames.

Firefighters battle Yosemite wildfire
Northwest of the reservoir, rocky terrain could stop the fire's growth there, Bentley said.
The fire also could threaten the area's hydroelectric generators, which provide much of San Francisco's electricity. Because of the approaching flames, officials shut down the generators, and the city -- more than 120 miles to the west -- temporarily is getting power from elsewhere.
Yosemite: "A national treasure"

California wildfire doubles in size
A top priority is stopping the fire from spreading further in Yosemite National Park.
Yosemite fire: Blaze spreads to national park
"The park is a national treasure," said U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman Vickie Wright, "so no matter what it takes, we're going to do everything in our power to protect that park."
Yosemite, with hundreds of campground sites and lodging units, had nearly 4 million visitors last year, the National Park Service said. The park typically has 15,000 visitors on a busy summer weekend.

Fire crews fight to save Yosemite
While the Rim Fire has consumed at least 12,000 acres in the northwest section of the park, so far it has had little or no direct impact on Yosemite Valley, a popular spot for tourists and home to many of the famous cliffs and waterfalls in the park.
About 4,500 structures, many of them vacation homes, were under threat, according to InciWeb, a federal website that collects information from agencies such as the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management. The fire so far has cost more than $20 million, Bentley said.
Wildfire threatens 90-year-old cabin
The inferno threatened the Yosemite gateway communities of Groveland and Pine Mountain Lake just outside the Stanislaus National Forest.
"Business is slow, very slow," said Corinna Loh, owner of the Iron Door Saloon in Groveland.
Her normal season is Memorial Day to Labor Day.
"This is time we manage to save up money to make it through the winter, so it's really scary for all of us," she said, sitting among empty tables.
The Tuolumne County Sheriff's Office, meanwhile, issued evacuation advisories for the town of Tuolumne and nearby Ponderosa Hill, InciWeb said. It was not clear how many residents were covered by the evacuation advisory.
The fire has destroyed 11 homes and 12 outbuildings, as well as a Yosemite campground owned by the city of Berkeley, officials said.
Authorities say the Rim Fire started on August 17. The cause is under investigation.
What you need to know about wildfires
CNN's Nick Valencia and Gary Tuchman reported from Yosemite National Park, and Ed Payne reported and wrote in Atlanta.