For the past 10 days, firefighters in California have been struggling to contain the Rim Fire, now one of the largest in the state's history, as it blazes across the Stanislaus National Forest and into Yosemite National Park. As of last night, the Rim Fire had burned nearly 240 square miles, disrupted hydroelectric power supply to San Francisco, and destroyed 23 structures. The fire is only 15 percent contained and still threatens thousands of homes in the mountainous region.
Yosemite Wildfire
-
A firefighter uses a hose to douse flames of the Rim Fire on a hillside, on August 24, 2013 near Groveland, California. The Rim Fire continues to burn out of control and threatens 4,500 homes outside of Yosemite National Park. Over 2,000 firefighters are battling the blaze that has entered a section of Yosemite National Park and is currently 7 percent contained. #
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images -
-
-
A smoky haze blankets Virginia Street looking south from the Reno, Nevada, downtown casino strip near California Street as health district officials raised an air quality alert to the "red" unhealthy level, on August 23, 2013. The smoke from a massive wildfire burning 150 miles to the south at Yosemite National Park prompted school officials to keep children inside Friday in Carson City, Washoe and Douglas counties. #
AP Photo/Scott Sonner -
-
-
The Rim Fire burns along Highway 120 near Yosemite National Park, on August 25, 2013. With winds gusting to 50 mph on Sierra mountain ridges and flames jumping from treetop to treetop, hundreds of firefighters have been deployed to protect this and other communities in the path of fire. #
AP Photo/Jae C. Hong -
-
Smoke from the Rim Fire lingers over the O'Shaughnessy Dam at Hetch Hetchy Reservoir in Yosemite National Park, on August 24, 2013. The blaze has prompted California Gov. Jerry Brown to declare a state of emergency for San Francisco due to damage to some of the lines and stations that carry power to San Francisco. The Hetch Hetchy reservoir also had to take two of its three hydroelectric power stations out of service. #
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images -
-
-
Inmate firefighters walk along Highway 120 as firefighters continue to battle the Rim Fire near Yosemite National Park, on August 25, 2013. Fire crews are clearing brush and setting sprinklers to protect two groves of giant sequoias as a massive week-old wildfire rages along the remote northwest edge of Yosemite National Park. #
AP Photo/Jae C. Hong -
-
-
-
-
We want to hear what you think about this article. Submit a letter to the editor or write to letters@theatlantic.com.