Aug. 29, 2012 — The Rush Fire has burned 315,577 acres and according to inciweb.org, is now the second largest wildfire in California history.

Based on more accurate mapping, the lightning caused blaze that started on Rush Top Mountain southeast of Ravendale, has burned 271,911 acres in California and 43,666 acres in Nevada. The 2003 Cedar Fire in San Diego County is reported as the largest fire at 273,246 acres.  Had all of the acres burned been in California, the Ruch Fire would have been the largest in state history.

On Tuesday, Aug. 21, firefighters were kept busy quelling hot spots and putting out burning islands of vegetation. The hot spots are located in the interior of the fire, especially the northeast flank in Nevada, about 25 miles northeast of Ravendale.

Ken Collum, the Bureau of Land Management's manager for the Eagle Lake Field Office, flew over the fire Tuesday morning. He reported that in the interior of the fire in California about 60 percent of the landscape was burned while 40 percent was not. He noted deer, pronghorn antelope and wild horses in and out of the burned areas.

Firefighters will continue to mop up and suppress hot spots today, Wednesday, Aug. 29. They will also continue to make repairs from firefighting operations on the north flank, as well as hauling fire equipment from fire lines all around the fire back to the fire camp near Susanville.

The Rush Fire is now 82 percent contained. Full containment is expected for Thursday, Aug. 30. Inciweb reported more and more firefighters and equipment will be leaving the fire in coming days.

If all goes well, a small group of firefighters will take over management of the fire this Public lands bounded by Highway 395 on the west, the Sand Pass Road and Nevada 447 on the east, the Wendel Road on the south, and Juniper Ridge Road to Buckhorn Road on the north are closed. The Buckhorn Road is closed from Nevada Highway 447 to the Marr Road in Calif. The Buffalo Meadows Road in Washoe County Nevada is also closed. The Ramhorn Springs and Dodge Reservoir campgrounds remain closed.

Due to the extreme fire behavior, use of chainsaws on public lands managed by BLM in northeast California and far northwest Nevada are still suspended. Fire officials remind residents and visitors fire restrictions are in effect for public lands and national forests in northeast California and far northwest Nevada. Campfires are permitted only in posted recreation sites.