Sunday, Jun. 29, 2008

Fire spreads into Yosemite

A fire that's been burning in the Stanislaus National Forest for eight days spread into Yosemite National Park on Saturday, according to authorities.

Lightning started about 10 small fires in the area June 21 just before 4 p.m.; the largest fire became the North Mountain fire.

Steep, rugged terrain continued to slow the progress of firefighters trying to put out the blaze, and officials did not have an estimate for when the fire would be fully contained.

As of Saturday afternoon, the North Mountain fire had burned 1,500 acres in the Groveland Ranger District north of the Tuolumne River, and 30 percent of the fire had been contained. The fire had not jumped the Tuolumne River, but it spread into an area where the Yosemite National Park boundary reaches north of the river, said Pam Bierce, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Forest Service.

She said the fire had burned a small area inside Yosemite National Park just east of the North Mountain lookout point in the Stanislaus National Forest. But it was unclear how much land in Yosemite had burned.

A fire retardant mixing base was in operation at Pine Mountain Airport on Saturday to allow for rapid use of retardant on the fire. Bierce said ground crews digging fire lines were assisted by a Type 1 heavy helicopter, which has the capability of carrying up to 1,800 gallons of fire retardant. She said area residents should expect to hear and see more firefighters and helicopter activity as more fire crews and aviation equipment arrive.

Authorities will continue to monitor through the weekend a subtropical weather system that moved in and could bring thunderstorms, wind and lightning to the area, officials said.

No evacuations have been ordered, but contingency plans have been created. No roads have been closed, but the Preston Falls Trail is closed.