The Rim Fire (2013) was a California wildfire in Tuolumne & Mariposa Counties (Stanislaus National Forest & Yosemite), with 257,314 acres, 112 structures destroyed, 0 deaths on the public record. Its cause is recorded as confirmed. No known litigation. Status as of October 2, 2026.
The Rim Fire burned 257,314 acres of the Stanislaus National Forest and Yosemite National Park in the late summer of 2013. Federal prosecutors called it the largest fire in the recorded history of the Sierra Nevada. It destroyed 112 structures, 11 of them homes, and cost $127.35 million to fight. Nobody died.
The Forest Service found that it began when a hunter let an illegal fire escape. A man was indicted for it in 2014. The case never reached trial: two government witnesses died in early 2015, their earlier statements could not be used as evidence, and prosecutors dropped the charges.
We found no lawsuit seeking damages for losses in the fire, and no suit by the United States or by San Francisco to recover costs.
The lawsuits that did follow were about the forest afterward. Environmental groups sued in 2014 to stop salvage logging in the burn area; a federal judge refused to block it and the Ninth Circuit affirmed in 2015. A second suit, filed in 2019, challenged a federally funded logging, reforestation and biomass program; the court entered judgment for the government defendants in June 2022. Neither is a claim over fire losses.
The fire also brought a federal disaster declaration, DR-4158-CA, on December 13, 2013, for Tuolumne County.
Fire facts
From public records; unknown values are shown, never guessed.
| Year | 2013 |
|---|---|
| Start date | 2013-08-17 |
| Containment date | 2013-10-24 |
| Region / counties | Tuolumne, Mariposa |
| Acreage | 257,314 |
| Structures destroyed | 112 |
| Structures damaged | 7 |
| Fatalities | 0 |
| Cause status | confirmed |
| Officially determined arson | No / not determined |
| Last verified | 2026-10-02 |
Cause
The U.S. Forest Service announced on September 5, 2013 that investigators had determined the Rim Fire began when a hunter allowed an illegal fire to escape, on the Stanislaus National Forest near Jawbone Ridge. A federal grand jury indicted a Tuolumne County man in August 2014 on charges of starting the fire and lying to investigators. He pleaded not guilty. The government moved to dismiss the indictment on May 1, 2015 after two of its witnesses died, and the court dismissed it the same day. No one has been convicted of starting the fire, and this page does not name the man who was charged.
What happened
The Rim Fire started on the afternoon of August 17, 2013 in the Stanislaus National Forest and burned into Yosemite National Park. The Governor proclaimed a state of emergency for Tuolumne County on August 22 and for the City and County of San Francisco on August 23, because the fire threatened the Hetch Hetchy water and power system that serves the city. The fire burned 257,314 acres and destroyed 11 residences, 3 commercial properties and 98 outbuildings. Ten people were injured and no one died. It was fully contained on October 24, 2013, at a firefighting cost of $127.35 million.
Rim Fire timeline
Each entry is dated and links to the public source it comes from.
The Rim Fire starts in the Stanislaus National Forest.
The Governor proclaims a state of emergency for Tuolumne County.
The Governor proclaims a state of emergency for the City and County of San Francisco over threats to its water and power system; FEMA approves Fire Management Assistance.
The Forest Service announces that the fire began when a hunter allowed an illegal fire to escape.
The fire is fully contained.
Federal major disaster DR-4158-CA is declared.
Source: FEMA
A federal grand jury returns a four-count indictment over the start of the fire.
Source: U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of California
A federal court denies a preliminary injunction against post-fire salvage logging.
The government moves to dismiss the indictment after two witnesses die; the court dismisses it.
Source: U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of California
The Ninth Circuit affirms the denial of an injunction in the salvage logging case.
A federal court grants summary judgment to the defendants in the second environmental case.
Litigation status
No known litigation. Status as of October 2, 2026.
We found no lawsuit seeking damages for losses in the Rim Fire and no action by the United States or the City and County of San Francisco to recover costs, in a search of the U.S. Attorney's press releases for the Eastern District of California and of federal court records on CourtListener as of October 2, 2026. State superior court records were not searched. The criminal case was No. 1:14-cr-00165 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California: a four-count indictment was returned on August 7, 2014, alleging that the defendant kindled a fire in the Stanislaus National Forest while fire restrictions were in place, let it spread beyond his control, and lied to a federal agent. On May 1, 2015 the government moved to dismiss, telling the court that two witnesses had died and that without their testimony it was unlikely to prove the charges, and the court dismissed the indictment in the interest of justice. Two environmental cases followed. In Center for Biological Diversity v. Skalski, No. 1:14-cv-01382, plaintiffs challenged the Forest Service's Rim Fire Recovery Project; the district court denied a preliminary injunction in an order filed October 7, 2014 and the Ninth Circuit affirmed on May 26, 2015 in No. 14-16948. In Earth Island Institute v. Nash, No. 1:19-cv-01420, plaintiffs challenged a logging, reforestation and biomass program funded by a federal housing grant; the court denied a preliminary injunction on April 21, 2020 and granted summary judgment to the defendants in an order filed June 16, 2022. Those two cases concern forest management, not fire losses.
No known litigation here means no lawsuit over fire losses was found in our search as of the status date. It is not a finding that none exists, a dismissed indictment is not a finding about who started the fire, and nothing here describes any individual situation.
Court & regulatory record
- Order dismissing the indictment (May 1, 2015) , U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California (Case 1:14-cr-00165)
- Government Moves To Dismiss Rim Fire Indictment (May 1, 2015) , U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of California
- Tuolumne County Man Indicted For Starting Rim Fire (August 7, 2014) , U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of California
- Order denying preliminary injunction, Center for Biological Diversity v. Skalski (filed October 7, 2014) , U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California (Case 1:14-cv-01382)
- Memorandum affirming, Center for Biological Diversity v. Skalski (May 26, 2015) , U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (Case 14-16948)
- Order granting summary judgment to defendants, Earth Island Institute v. Nash (filed June 16, 2022) , U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California (Case 1:19-cv-01420)
This is a reported public-record status, not advice about any individual’s legal situation. Deadlines and eligibility change over time and depend on facts specific to each person. If you have questions about yours, contact us and we will help.
Key figures on the public record
Each figure below was published by the court, agency, or company named beside it, on the date shown. These describe the case and the disaster, not any individual’s situation.
| Figure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Acres burned | 257,314 | U.S. Forest Service, October 25, 2013 |
| Rank among largest California wildfires | 12th | CAL FIRE, October 2, 2024 |
| Structures destroyed | 112: 11 residences, 3 commercial, 98 outbuildings | U.S. Forest Service, October 25, 2013 |
| Injuries | 10 | U.S. Forest Service, October 25, 2013 |
| Deaths | 0 | CAL FIRE, October 2, 2024 |
| Cost of fighting the fire | $127.35 million | U.S. Forest Service, October 25, 2013 |
In the news
Independent news coverage related to the Rim Fire. Each link opens the original public reporting.
- May 1, 2015With Witnesses Dead, Charges Dropped Against Rim Fire SuspectAssociated Press, via KQED
- May 1, 2015Feds Drop Case Against Rim Fire Suspect After Deaths Of 2 WitnessesCBS Sacramento
- Aug 27, 2014U.S. Forest Service Allows Logging In 52 Square Miles Of Forests Burned By Rim FireAssociated Press, via CBS Sacramento
- Aug 7, 2014Tuolumne County Resident Indicted for Starting Rim Fire in YosemiteKQED
- Dec 13, 2013Federal Disaster Relief Funds Available for Rim Fire DamageKQED
- Oct 25, 2013Rim Fire Near Yosemite Fully Contained After More Than 2 MonthsCBS San Francisco
- Sep 6, 2013Rim Fire Damage To Hetch Hetchy Water System Up To $30 MillionCBS San Francisco
- Sep 5, 2013Massive Rim Fire Started By Hunter Who Allowed Illegal Fire To EscapeAssociated Press, via CBS San Francisco
Common questions about the Rim Fire
What caused the Rim Fire?
The U.S. Forest Service announced on September 5, 2013 that investigators had determined the Rim Fire began when a hunter allowed an illegal fire to escape, on the Stanislaus National Forest near Jawbone Ridge. A federal grand jury indicted a Tuolumne County man in August 2014 on charges of starting the fire and lying to investigators. He pleaded not guilty. The government moved to dismiss the indictment on May 1, 2015 after two of its witnesses died, and the court dismissed it the same day. No one has been convicted of starting the fire, and this page does not name the man who was charged.
Is there litigation over the Rim Fire?
No known litigation. Status as of October 2, 2026.
What areas did the Rim Fire affect?
The Rim Fire (Tuolumne & Mariposa Counties (Stanislaus National Forest & Yosemite)) affected communities including Groveland, Pine Mountain Lake, Tuolumne City, Hetch Hetchy.
How large was the Rim Fire?
257,314 acres, 112 structures destroyed, 0 fatalities, per public records as of 2026-10-02.
What caused the Rim Fire?
The U.S. Forest Service announced on September 5, 2013 that the Rim Fire near Yosemite National Park, California began when a hunter allowed an illegal fire to escape in the Stanislaus National Forest on August 17, 2013.
Was anyone convicted of starting the Rim Fire?
No. A federal grand jury indicted a Tuolumne County man on August 7, 2014 over the start of the 2013 Rim Fire, but the government moved to dismiss the indictment on May 1, 2015 after two of its witnesses died, and the court dismissed it the same day.
How big was the Rim Fire?
The 2013 Rim Fire burned 257,314 acres in the Stanislaus National Forest and Yosemite National Park in Tuolumne and Mariposa counties, California. It started on August 17, 2013 and was fully contained on October 24, 2013. It ranks 12th on CAL FIRE's list of the largest California wildfires.
Is there a Rim Fire lawsuit?
We found no lawsuit over losses from the 2013 Rim Fire as of October 2, 2026. Two federal environmental lawsuits challenged post-fire logging and reforestation projects in the burn area, and the courts ruled for the government in both. Neither was a claim for fire losses.
How much did the Rim Fire cost to fight?
The U.S. Forest Service reported a cost of $127.35 million to fight the 2013 Rim Fire in California, as of its final update on October 25, 2013.
Sources
- Investigators discover cause of Rim Fire (September 5, 2013), archived copy, U.S. Forest Service
- Rim Fire incident page, final update, archived copy, U.S. Forest Service, InciWeb
- Tuolumne County Man Indicted For Starting Rim Fire, U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of California
- Government Moves To Dismiss Rim Fire Indictment, U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of California
- Order dismissing the indictment, No. 1:14-cr-00165, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California
- Memorandum, No. 14-16948, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- Disaster declaration DR-4158-CA, FEMA
- Fire Management Assistance declaration FM-5049-CA, FEMA
- Top 20 Largest California Wildfires, linked from CAL FIRE Statistics, CAL FIRE
- Rim Fire incident record, CAL FIRE
Facts on this page are drawn from the public sources listed above and rewritten in original words. See Sources & Methodology.