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Podcasts Take Two
Winter weather poses erosion threat in Rim Fire burn zone
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Sep 24, 2013
Listen • 4:36
Winter weather poses erosion threat in Rim Fire burn zone
When the winter rains start falling, the burn areas become prone to erosion, and all that ash could end up choking the area's pristine rivers. Todd Ellsworth is heading up a Forest Service team to try to prevent such a scenario.
In this photo provided by the U.S. Forest Service, fire crew members stand watch near a controlled burn operation as they release a very pistol, as they fight the Rim Fire near Yosemite National Park in California, Monday, Sept. 2, 2013.
In this photo provided by the U.S. Forest Service, fire crew members stand watch near a controlled burn operation as they release a very pistol, as they fight the Rim Fire near Yosemite National Park in California, Monday, Sept. 2, 2013.
(
Mike McMillan/AP
)

When the winter rains start falling, the burn areas become prone to erosion, and all that ash could end up choking the area's pristine rivers. Todd Ellsworth is heading up a Forest Service team to try to prevent such a scenario.

The Rim Fire near Yosemite National Park has burned through about 260,000 acres of forest and likely won't be contained until early October. Winter rain and snow should help fully extinguish the fire, but that moisture comes with its own set of problems.

When the winter rains start falling, the burn areas become prone to erosion, and all that ash could end up choking the area's pristine rivers. Todd Ellsworth is heading up a Forest Service team to try to prevent such a scenario.