Rim Fire Now 75% Contained

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, Calif. — The massive wildfire burning around Yosemite National Park is now 75 percent contained.

State fire spokesman Daniel Berlant says crews made good progress against the Rim Fire overnight, increasing containment from 70 to 75 percent. The fire also did not grow significantly, with higher humidity moderating fire behavior.

The blaze has now burned about 369 square miles.

Cal Fire is reporting that an evacuation advisory remains in effect for Ponderosa Hills and areas east, along the south side of Highway 108 up to Pinecrest. Highway 120 remains closed from Buck Meadows to 1½ miles east of White Wolf.

The fire, which has claimed 111 structures including 11 homes, began on Aug. 17 in the Stanislaus National Forest. Two-thirds of the land burned since then is located there. The cause is being investigated.

It has claimed 111 structures, 11 of them homes. The Chronicle is reporting that about 4,500 homes are still threatened by the blaze. The fire is currently the fourth largest on record in California.

The forecast for air quality in the area has also improved from last week. InciWeb has a good air impact report, posted Tuesday morning. "Communities within the immediate fire area will continue to see smoke from morning inversions," the site says. "Southwest winds will continue thru Friday, then another period of northwest winds is likely through the weekend and possibly into next week. Smoke production from the Rim fire is still likely by then, so the Yosemite and San Joaquin Valleys could again see air quality impacts."

For fire updates, check Cal Fire and InciWeb. For the latest on closures in Yosemite, check the park's Rim Fire page.