Firefighters managed to contain 60 percent of the massive Rim Fire burning near Yosemite National Park on Monday.
The monstrous wildfire in Northern California has expanded over 228,670 acres, or 357 square miles-more than seven times the size of San Francisco, announced Cal Fire spokesman Daniel Berlant, according to NBC Bay Area. The containment should only grow, he added, although the fire is not expected to be fully contained until Sept. 20.
4,500 homes remained threatened by the blaze which began Aug. 17 in the Stanislaus National Forest and has since grown to become the 4th largest wildfire in California's history.
According to one fire official who is not officially charged with investigating the fire, it's possible that illegal marijuana growers could be to blame. At a community meeting on Aug. 23, Todd McNeal, fire chief in the town of Twain Harte, admitted that officials "know it's human caused, there's no lightning in the area. ... (We) highly suspect that it might be some sort of illicit grove, marijuana grow-type thing." His comments were captured in a 20-minute video posted on YouTube. However, the U.S. Forest Service has not listed a cause for the blaze.
The Rim Fire has resulted in five injuries, but no deaths. Eleven homes have burned and the dense smoke that obscured Yosemite's majestic views for the first time on Saturday prompted air quality warnings was starting to ease, park spokeswoman Kari Cobb said, according to USA Today.
More than 4,600 personnel were battling the blaze, aided by more than 300 fire engines and 14 helicopters.
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