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Fire near Yosemite 'growing exponentially' »
The wildfire chewing up rugged land west of Yosemite National Park raged out of control Thursday, forcing hundreds of residents and visitors to clear out and authorities to cancel a popular bluegrass music festival planned for the Labor Day weekend. Facing dried-out hills, gusty canyon winds and nearly inaccessible terrain, a growing team of 1,800 firefighters struggled to make headway against the inferno, which began Saturday in a remote part of the Stanislaus National Forest near Groveland, a town of 600. Highway 120, one of three main approaches to Yosemite from the west, was shut down near Groveland, and while the national park remains open and mostly smoke-free, officials said they were considering closing wilderness areas in the lower, western portion of park. [...] organizers wrote Thursday on their website that Tuolumne County officials had ruled the event could not begin as scheduled Aug. 29 because of "the potential adverse effects of the wildfire on public health, safety and welfare." Bad news for fans, localsCounty Supervisor Karl Rodefer said local leaders not only wanted to keep festivalgoers out of harm's way, but also had to make sure roads weren't congested, impeding access for fire crews and their vehicles. The blaze had already rolled through nearby Camp Tawonga and the Spinning Wheel vacation cabins, Forest Service officials said. City officials also are monitoring water quality at the reservoir to make sure ash doesn't pollute the municipal water supply. National priorityThe Forest Service has made the Rim Fire - one of 52 major fires nationwide - a top priority, meaning additional fire crews and aircraft have been called in. Source Main page (current trends)
More about: bluegrass music festival, Groveland, Labor Day weekend, rugged land west, Stanislaus National Forest, Supervisor Karl Rodefer, yosemite, Yosemite National Park