SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The cost of fighting the wildfire burning in and around Yosemite National Park has risen to more than $89 million as the blaze enters its fourth week.
The U.S. Forest Service reported Saturday that the Rim Fire has burned 394 square miles (1,020 square kilometres), 11 more square miles (28.5 more square kilometres) than the day before when it became the third-biggest wildfire in modern California history.
It remains 80 per cent contained.
The fire started in the Stanislaus National Forest on Aug. 17.
There are still more than 3,400 people fighting it as hotter and drier weather arrived on Saturday.
Officials say it could cost tens of millions of dollars more to restore damaged habitat and waterways before the fall rainy season.
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