Crews increase on Sierra blaze

Personnel trying to keep damage on remote ridge

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SONORA -- State and federal fire crews are stepping up their efforts to limit the Knight fire in a remote, sparsely populated region of Tuolumne County.

The fire, which began Sunday afternoon, has charred more than 275 acres of a rugged ridge between the middle and south forks of the Stanislaus River in an area known as Jupiter. There was no measurable containment as of Monday, U.S. Forest Service spokesman Jerry Snyder said.

The fire threatens 25 to 30 cabins, though few, if any, are believed to be the homes of year-round residents.

"They're summer cabins," he said.

Officials will bring in more personnel today, nearly doubling Monday's crew of about 550 firefighters and equipment operators working to contain the blaze on the ground. They are being aided by seven helicopters and six airplanes.

"We'll be bringing in several more dozers," Snyder said. "Lots of equipment."

The plan is to protect the cabins where possible, he said, and to let the fire burn to the top of the ridge, using the middle fork of the Stanislaus as a natural barrier.

Jupiter is accessible by road through Columbia State Park and through Twain Harte.

The Knight fire is so named because Mount Knight is the high point of the burning ridge, which rises to about 3,500 feet.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

The blaze is expected to create smoky conditions in parts of Tuolumne County for the next few days. When visibility is three to five miles, the air is considered unhealthy for seniors, young children and people with emphysema, asthma or heart disease, and they should limit their time outdoors, county health officials said. If visibility is no more than a mile, the conditions are very unhealthy for everyone.

Signs that the smoke may be affecting your health include a cough, scratchy throat, irritated sinuses, shortness of breath, stinging eyes, runny nose, chest pain or headaches. Those advised to stay indoors should keep windows and doors closed unless it's very hot.