Yosemite National Park, California -- The numbers are staggering and the prospects are scary as a still-growing California wildfire menaces Yosemite National Park and San Francisco's water supply.
The tourist hotspot Yosemite Valley and its iconic attractions, including the El Capitan rock formation, currently are safe, miles from the Rim Fire's reach. However, the blaze was on the edge of the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, which serves 2.6 million customers in the Bay Area.
Water quality remains unchanged, despite ash that has fallen on the 459-square-mile reservoir, because the water is drawn from a depth of 260 feet, according to the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission.
The city was already transferring 275 million gallons of water daily from Hetch Hetchy to other reservoirs because Hetch Hetchy is full, but as a precautionary measure, the city increased that amount by 27 million gallons, a Tuesday statement said.
The commission said it was confident the Rim Fire would not affect the reservoir: "Due to the rocky, granite terrain and limited brush along the perimeter of the reservoir, there is little risk for direct water quality impacts."
The fire 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.
"All of San Francisco's municipal electric customers continue to be fully supplied; there will be no interruption in electric service," the commission said.
The Rim Fire, which has devoured about 184,000 acres, was still only 20% contained as of Tuesday evening.
It is the seventh largest blaze in California's recorded history.
"There's a lot of concern, and there's a lot of work to be done," U.S. Forest Service spokesman Lee Bentley said.
Firefighters on Tuesday were able to build fire lines in several locations.
Evacuations were ordered south of Highway 120, north of Old Yosemite Road and along the Highway 108 corridor between Tuolumne City and Pinecrest.
"Access and difficult terrain remain concerns for crews and equipment," said an incident report. "Rapid fire growth and extreme fire behavior are hampering suppression efforts."
As many as 20 helicopters and DC-10 and C-130 air tankers were aiding the efforts of 3,800 firefighting personnel.
A top priority is stopping the fire from spreading farther in Yosemite National Park.
A portion of Tioga Road in the park will be closed for several days beginning Wednesday so that firefighters can perform fire suppression.
"The work that will be performed over the next few days is instrumental in suppressing the Rim Fire within Yosemite. The safety of the firefighters working along the road is our paramount concern," park Superintendent Don Neubacher said in a statement.
Tamarack Flat and Yosemite Creek campgrounds, both located along Tioga Road, will remain closed.
The tourist hotspot Yosemite Valley and its iconic attractions, including the El Capitan rock formation, currently are safe, miles from the Rim Fire's reach. However, the blaze was on the edge of the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, which serves 2.6 million customers in the Bay Area.
Water quality remains unchanged, despite ash that has fallen on the 459-square-mile reservoir, because the water is drawn from a depth of 260 feet, according to the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission.
The city was already transferring 275 million gallons of water daily from Hetch Hetchy to other reservoirs because Hetch Hetchy is full, but as a precautionary measure, the city increased that amount by 27 million gallons, a Tuesday statement said.
The commission said it was confident the Rim Fire would not affect the reservoir: "Due to the rocky, granite terrain and limited brush along the perimeter of the reservoir, there is little risk for direct water quality impacts."
The fire 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.
"All of San Francisco's municipal electric customers continue to be fully supplied; there will be no interruption in electric service," the commission said.
The Rim Fire, which has devoured about 184,000 acres, was still only 20% contained as of Tuesday evening.
It is the seventh largest blaze in California's recorded history.
"There's a lot of concern, and there's a lot of work to be done," U.S. Forest Service spokesman Lee Bentley said.
Firefighters on Tuesday were able to build fire lines in several locations.
Evacuations were ordered south of Highway 120, north of Old Yosemite Road and along the Highway 108 corridor between Tuolumne City and Pinecrest.
"Access and difficult terrain remain concerns for crews and equipment," said an incident report. "Rapid fire growth and extreme fire behavior are hampering suppression efforts."
As many as 20 helicopters and DC-10 and C-130 air tankers were aiding the efforts of 3,800 firefighting personnel.
A top priority is stopping the fire from spreading farther in Yosemite National Park.
A portion of Tioga Road in the park will be closed for several days beginning Wednesday so that firefighters can perform fire suppression.
"The work that will be performed over the next few days is instrumental in suppressing the Rim Fire within Yosemite. The safety of the firefighters working along the road is our paramount concern," park Superintendent Don Neubacher said in a statement.
Tamarack Flat and Yosemite Creek campgrounds, both located along Tioga Road, will remain closed.
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