NASA image: Rim Fire update for September 23, 2013

Although the Rim Fire doesn't show any signs of smoke billowing like it has in the past satellite images, the fire still continues on. The blaze, which started on August 17, 2013, more than a month ago, is currenty 84% contained. Fire officials are currently estimating that complete containment will be achieved around October 1, 2013.

The statistics on the fire to date:

Acres Burned: 257 126 (402 square miles)
Structures Threatened: 0
Containment: 84%
Residences Destroyed: 11
Fire Start Date: August 17 2013
Commercial Property Destroyed: 3
Fire Cause: Under Investigation
Outbuildings Destroyed: 98
Cost to date: $122 million
Injuries: 10
Total Personnel At Present: 1,201

Fire officials have downgraded the growth potential of the fire to medium. It had been graded Extreme for the better part of the month prior to this. Definite headway has been made in extinguishing this massive blaze.

The approximate 1/2 inch of rain that fell on the fire Saturday (Sept. 21) aided fire suppression by reducing fire activity and spread. It was not enough rain to erode deeply burned water repellent soils. Given cooler temperatures and higher humidity fire behavior should again be more limited to isolated smoldering today (Sept. 23). High temperatures today will be in the 60s and 70s F.

This natural-color satellite image was collected by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aboard the Aqua satellite on September 20, 2013. Actively burning areas, detected by MODIS's thermal bands, are outlined in red.