Aspen Fire, Day 11: More Smoke Expected, Containment Increases

[Update: For the latest on the fire, read this story from Friday, August 2]Burning for over a week in the steep, rugged terrain of the Sierra Nevadas, the Aspen Fire has continued to grow in Fresno County. Crews have a 40 percent containment line around the now 16,204-acre fire. Nearly 1,950 people have been assigned to Sierra National Forest blaze, which has cost an estimated $12.8 million to date.

Smoke continues to impact local communities and has reached as far as Nevada, prompting Washoe County officials to alert residents. And more smoke is expected today as crews will be prescribing controlled burns between the fire and the containment line. An air quality monitoring device was installed in nearby Huntington Lake to help air quality officials.

Meanwhile, smoke from wildfires in Oregon have reached as far as California's Central Coast. In San Luis Obispo County, officials yesterday postponed a prescribed burn on California National Guard land.

Road, trail, and campground closures since last week remain in effect.

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