Yosemite’s Rim fire now 70 percent contained

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, Calif. – A relatively cool and humid Labor Day allowed fire crews to make major progress Monday toward corralling a massive wildfire searing the edge of Yosemite National Park.

The fire was 70 percent contained at nightfall, up from 45 percent some 24 hours earlier, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. The blaze now covers 368 square miles, about 20 more than Sunday night.

Fire weather was still classified as extreme with temperatures above 90 degrees and winds in some spots gusting at 20 mph, but Monday was cooler than many recent days, with more moisture and cloud cover.

Full containment is not expected until Sept. 20.

“We do have a nice window here of more cooperative weather,” state fire spokesman Daniel Berlant said.