Hanvelt: Local State Of Emergency

Tuolumne County Supervisors Chairman Randy Hanvelt has called for a local “State of Emergency” due to the Rim Fire, and it was ratified this morning by the full Board.

It helps raise awareness about the fire and opens the door for additional state resources and potential funding. Tracie Riggs with the County Office of Emergency Services reports that the evacuation center at Tioga High School is currently being moved down to the Mother Lode Fairgrounds this morning. Evacuees can go to the Manzanita Building. Riggs notes that there is ample parking available, and space for small animals in cages like dogs, cats and birds. Last night the Tioga High School evacuation site had as many as 12 people at one point.

Jerry Snyder with the Stanislaus National Forest reports that the Rim Fire is now close to 11,000 acres. Two homes have been destroyed, as well as five outbuildings. There are 2,500 structures considered in danger. Snyder says no injuries have been reported as a result of the fire.

Evacuation advisories are in effect for the Buck Meadows area, San Jose Family Camp, Rainbow Pool, Yosemite Inn, Early Intake, Evergreen Lodge, Packard Canyon and the Spinning Wheel Forest Service Facility. The evacuations are basically the area of Highway 120 from Cherry Lake Road to Smith Station.

Highway 120 remains closed indefinitely from Smith Station to four miles east of Buck Meadows.
The Tuolumne County Transportation Council reports that the YARTS Service to Yosemite is suspended indefinitely.

A big thanks to our community news partners Lew Richardson, Rick Martinez, Suzanne Ctibor, Mike McEvoy, Jerry Day and Doug Schmiett for sending in photos of the fire. They can be e-mailed to news@clarkebroadcasting.com.

The video shows the effort to battle the fire from the air.