Contra Costa County Firefighters Return From Battling Rim Fire

A strike team of firefighters from Contra Costa County is back home today after fighting the Rim Fire at Yosemite National Park.

“There’s been significant progress made on the fire, with about 80 percent of it contained,” said Lewis Broschard, Fire Marshall for the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District, on Wednesday. "Hopefully for everybody’s sake, the fire is put out soon," he said. The fire has cost California more than $39 million to date, according to cnn.com.  

The Rim Fire, which ignited Aug. 17 in a remote area of Stanislaus National Forest, is the fourth largest in California's history. It has consumed more than 348 square miles of forest land in and around Yosemite National Park, and destroyed 111 structures—11 of them homes. About 5,000 firefighters from the San Francisco Bay Area were called into battle the blaze. Thousands remain on the front lines. 

Contra Costa County's strike team also had firefighters from El Cerrito, Moraga-Orinda, Rodeo-Hercules, and San Ramon Valley Fire Districts. 

Broschard said the team arrived home safe and without injuries.  

No official cause has been reported, but least one fire official from the region has said the blaze may have been sparked by illegal marijuana growers.

Full containment of the Rim Fire is not expected until Sept. 20, according to CalFire. 

Jennifer Squires contributed to this report.