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| California Rim fire cause identified as 80% of blaze contained | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A hunter accidentally started the Rim fire which has scorched 370 square miles of California's Sierra Nevada, the US forest service said on Thursday. | |
| Investigators concluded a hunter "allowed an illegal fire to escape" on 17 August in a remote spot of Stanislaus national forest, debunking speculation it was caused by marijuana growers. | |
| "There is no indication the hunter was involved with illegal marijuana cultivation on public lands and no marijuana cultivation sites were located near the origin of the fire," said a statement. "No arrests have been made at this time and the hunter's name is being withheld pending further investigation." | "There is no indication the hunter was involved with illegal marijuana cultivation on public lands and no marijuana cultivation sites were located near the origin of the fire," said a statement. "No arrests have been made at this time and the hunter's name is being withheld pending further investigation." |
| An army of 4,359 firefighters and support staff backed with planes, helicopters and bulldozers has contained 80% of the fire, which has advanced into Yosemite national park is expected to burn for another few weeks. | |
| Todd McNeal, the fire and rescue chief of Twain Harte, a town which narrowly escaped the flames, started the rumour about pot growers in a community briefing on 23 August which was posted on YouTube. "We know it was human-caused. But we don't know the exact cause. We highly suspect it may have been some sort of illicit marijuana grow." | Todd McNeal, the fire and rescue chief of Twain Harte, a town which narrowly escaped the flames, started the rumour about pot growers in a community briefing on 23 August which was posted on YouTube. "We know it was human-caused. But we don't know the exact cause. We highly suspect it may have been some sort of illicit marijuana grow." |
| If marijuana growers were confirmed as the cause it would have intensified 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 were confirmed as the cause it would have intensified 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 Rim fire is expected to overtake the Zaca fire, California's third biggest, which charred 375 square miles around Santa Barbara in 2007. | The Rim fire is expected to overtake the Zaca fire, California's third biggest, which charred 375 square miles around Santa Barbara in 2007. |
| The Rim fire has destroyed 111 structures, including 11 residences, and has cost $80m to battle, with the federal government picking up most of the tab. | The Rim fire has destroyed 111 structures, including 11 residences, and has cost $80m to battle, with the federal government picking up most of the tab. |
| Firefighters have made the greatest progress on the western and northern edges of the fire, and granite walls and lakes in Yosemite have acted as natural breaks on its eastern front. | Firefighters have made the greatest progress on the western and northern edges of the fire, and granite walls and lakes in Yosemite have acted as natural breaks on its eastern front. |
| Climate change, drought and human settlement into previously uninhabited areas have played important roles in the increased frequency and ferocity of US wildfires. 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 increased frequency and ferocity of US wildfires. 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. |
| This tactic meant undergrowth – fuel – accumulated, creating pent-up energy potential for the fire to feed on. | This tactic meant undergrowth – fuel – accumulated, creating pent-up energy potential for the fire to feed on. |
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