California wildfire grows to record size, nearly as big as Singapore

SAN FRANCISCO — The largest California wildfires on record roared largely unchecked for a 10th day through forests in and around Yosemite National Park yesterday (Aug 26) and threatened a reservoir that supplies most of San Francisco’s water.

The blaze in Northern California’s Sierra Nevada area is approximately 600-sq-km large, affecting an area almost as large as Singapore (710 sq km).

Nearly 3,700 firefighters battled the wildfire, reporting modest progress, saying the fire was 15 per cent contained.

As of midday yesterday, the eastern flank of the so-called Rim Fire had burned to within a mile of Yosemite’s Hetch Hetchy reservoir on the Tuolumne River.

The raging wildfire rained ash on the reservoir that is the chief source of San Francisco’s famously pure drinking water, and utility officials scrambled yesterday to send more water toward the metropolitan area before it becomes tainted.

“We’re taking advantage that the water we’re receiving is still of good quality,” said Mr Harlan Kelly Jr, general manager of the city’s Public Utilities Commission. “We’re bringing down as much water as possible and replenishing all of the local reservoirs.”

At the same time, utility officials gave assurances that they have a six-month supply of water in reservoirs near the Bay area.

So far the ash that has been raining onto the Hetch Hetchy has not sunk as far as the intake valves, which are about halfway down the 90m O’Shaughnessy Dam. Utility officials said that the ash is non-toxic but that the city will begin filtering water for customers if problems are detected. That could cost more.

Yesterday, the fire was still several miles away from the steep granite canyon where the reservoir is nestled, but several spot fires were burning closer, and firefighters were protecting hydroelectric transmission lines and other utility facilities.

“Obviously we’re paying close attention to the city’s water supply,” said Mr Glen Stratton, an operations chief on the fire suppression team.

Power generation at the reservoir was shut down last week so that firefighters would not be endangered by live wires. San Francisco is buying replacement power from other sources to run City Hall and other municipal buildings.

It has been at least 17 years since fire ravaged the northernmost stretch of Yosemite that is under siege.

Park officials cleared brush and set sprinklers on two groves of giant sequoias that were seven to 10 miles away from the fire’s front lines, said park spokesman Scott Gediman. While sequoias have a chemical in their bark to help them resist fire, they can be damaged when flames move through slowly.

The fire has swept through steep Sierra Nevada river canyons and stands of thick oak and pine, closing in on Tuolumne City and other mountain communities. It has confounded ground crews with its 90m-tall walls of flame and the way it has jumped from treetop to treetop.

The US Forest Service said the fire was threatening about 4,500 structures and destroyed at least 23.

Rugged terrain, strong winds and bone-dry conditions have hampered firefighters’ efforts to contain the blaze, which began Aug 17. The cause has not been determined. AGENCIES