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Yosemite wildfire 80% contained as illicit marijuana grove eyed as cause Yosemite wildfire 80% contained as illicit marijuana grove eyed as cause
(14 days later)
Firefighters have contained 80% of the Rim fire with help from granite cliffs and lakes which slowed its advance into Yosemite national park.Firefighters have contained 80% of the Rim fire with help from granite cliffs and lakes which slowed its advance into Yosemite national park.
The blaze had scorched 368 square miles by Tuesday, making it almost the third biggest wildfire in California history.The blaze had scorched 368 square miles by Tuesday, making it almost the third biggest wildfire in California history.
The cause remained under investigation but it emerged that the rescue and fire chief of Twain Harte, a town which narrowly escaped the flames, pointed the finger at clandestine pot growers who operate in remote areas of the Stanislaus national forest, where the fire started on 17 August.The cause remained under investigation but it emerged that the rescue and fire chief of Twain Harte, a town which narrowly escaped the flames, pointed the finger at clandestine pot growers who operate in remote areas of the Stanislaus national forest, where the fire started on 17 August.
"It started out in the brush. We know it was human-caused," Todd McNeal told a community meeting on 23 August. "But we don't know the exact cause. We highly suspect it may have been some sort of illicit marijuana grove.""It started out in the brush. We know it was human-caused," Todd McNeal told a community meeting on 23 August. "But we don't know the exact cause. We highly suspect it may have been some sort of illicit marijuana grove."
The briefing, which was recently posted on YouTube, appears to have been an unauthorised breach of official silence around the cause.The briefing, which was recently posted on YouTube, appears to have been an unauthorised breach of official silence around the cause.
Law-enforcement agencies were making headway in the investigation, said Rena Escobeda, a public information officer for the Rim fire. "Progress has been made on the case but there are no additional details." She had no comment on McNeal's briefing. "We don't have any knowledge about it. We're not speaking to him."Law-enforcement agencies were making headway in the investigation, said Rena Escobeda, a public information officer for the Rim fire. "Progress has been made on the case but there are no additional details." She had no comment on McNeal's briefing. "We don't have any knowledge about it. We're not speaking to him."
An official at the Twain Harte fire department told the Guardian the chief was unavailable for interview.An official at the Twain Harte fire department told the Guardian the chief was unavailable for interview.
If marijuana growers are confirmed to be the cause it will swell anger and concern over the ecological impact of clandestine cultivations which divert streams, ravage soil and use fertilisers and pesticides in parks and forests.If marijuana growers are confirmed to be the cause it will swell anger and concern over the ecological impact of clandestine cultivations which divert streams, ravage soil and use fertilisers and pesticides in parks and forests.
The blaze has scorched swathes of the Sierra Nevada, destroyed 111 structures, including 11 homes, belched choking smoke, changed local weather patterns and triggered evacuation advisories for several towns.The blaze has scorched swathes of the Sierra Nevada, destroyed 111 structures, including 11 homes, belched choking smoke, changed local weather patterns and triggered evacuation advisories for several towns.
A fleet of planes and helicopters has dropped water and retardant to support 4,359 firefighters on the ground who have battled around the clock, digging trenches and lighting controlled fires to combat an especially fierce and unpredictable blaze. The effort has cost $60m so far, the federal government covering most of it.A fleet of planes and helicopters has dropped water and retardant to support 4,359 firefighters on the ground who have battled around the clock, digging trenches and lighting controlled fires to combat an especially fierce and unpredictable blaze. The effort has cost $60m so far, the federal government covering most of it.
The Rim fire is poised to overtake the Zaca fire, California's third biggest, which charred 375 square miles around Santa Barbara in 2007.The Rim fire is poised to overtake the Zaca fire, California's third biggest, which charred 375 square miles around Santa Barbara in 2007.
Firefighters had made most progress on the western and northern edges, said Escobeda, and granite walls and lakes in Yosemite were acting as natural breaks on its eastern front.Firefighters had made most progress on the western and northern edges, said Escobeda, and granite walls and lakes in Yosemite were acting as natural breaks on its eastern front.
Climate change, drought and human settlement into previously uninhabited areas have played important roles in the growing number and ferocity of US wildfires but the Rim fire's speed – it leapt rivers and roads before firefighters could respond – stemmed largely from a century-old forest policy of extinguishing fires as quickly as possible.Climate change, drought and human settlement into previously uninhabited areas have played important roles in the growing number and ferocity of US wildfires but the Rim fire's speed – it leapt rivers and roads before firefighters could respond – stemmed largely from a century-old forest policy of extinguishing fires as quickly as possible.
It meant undergrowth – fuel – accumulated, creating pent-up force.It meant undergrowth – fuel – accumulated, creating pent-up force.
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