Rim Fire (2013)
Stanislaus National Forest & Yosemite, California · Aug 17, 2013 – Oct 24, 2013
One of the largest wildfires in Sierra Nevada historyAcres burned
257,314
Lives lost
0
Structures destroyed
112
Year
2013
Duration
~9 weeks
What happened
The Rim Fire burned more than 257,000 acres in and around Yosemite National Park in 2013 — one of the largest in Sierra Nevada history — after an illegal campfire escaped.
Cause
Illegal campfire
Location
Stanislaus National Forest & Yosemite, California
Key facts
- ▪One of the largest Sierra Nevada fires on record
- ▪Burned into Yosemite National Park
- ▪Started by an illegal campfire
- ▪Threatened San Francisco’s Hetch Hetchy water supply
Replay the Rim Fire in the spread simulator
This centers the wildfire-spread simulator on the Rim Fire’s documented ignition point and replays its conditions on 2013-08-17 — the day’s strongest wind, temperature, and humidity from the open-meteo historical archive (which set the fire-day fuel moisture) — run through the same Rothermel surface-fire model used across FireRisk. Press ▶ Simulate to watch how fire tends to move under those conditions.
⚠️ Educational reconstruction — not the real fire perimeter
This is a simplified model of how fire spreads under the 2013 conditions, not the Rim Fire’s actual burned area, official progression, or a prediction of any current fire. It cannot account for real fuels, suppression, spotting, or how conditions changed hour to hour. For real-time fire information always follow Watch Duty, official agencies, and local authorities — and call 911 in an emergency.
Loading the 2013 fire-day conditions…
Reminder: an educational reconstruction of fire spread under the 2013 conditions — not the Rim Fire’s actual perimeter, an official record, or a forecast. Modeled spread, direction, and timing are illustrative only. Never rely on it for any safety decision.
Could your home survive a fire like the Rim Fire?
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Related major fires
Rim Fire FAQ
When was the Rim Fire and where did it burn?
The Rim Fire started Aug 17, 2013 in Stanislaus National Forest & Yosemite, California, and was contained Oct 24, 2013.
How many acres did the Rim Fire burn?
The Rim Fire burned approximately 257,314 acres.
How many people died in the Rim Fire?
Approximately 0 people died in the Rim Fire.
What caused the Rim Fire?
Illegal campfire.
Figures are approximate and compiled from official agency reporting; totals for recent fires may still be revised. FireRisk.ai is an independent wildfire-risk service.