Smoke and flames rise above light vegetation on the York Fire, Mojave National Preserve/Inciweb

Firefighters slowly were making progress on containing the York Fire in Mojave National Preserve in California, although a drying trend with higher daily temperatures was returning to the area.

The fire, spotted last Friday, was reported to cover 94,009 acres as of Thursday morning, with 63 percent of the fire ringed by containment lines. The Hart Mine Road from Walking Box Ranch to Ivanpah, Nevada, was closed in Mojave National Preserve and Castle Mountains National Monument due to hazardous wildfire conditions and fire suppression operations.

Monsoonal weather this week dropped between 1-2 inches of rain over much of the eastern perimeter of the fire. However, that moisture was to shift east Thursday, opening the way for much drier air and warming temperatures through the weekend, the fire report said.

While the cause of the fire remains to be determined, officials have said it started on a private inholding in the national preserve.

Due to the exceptionally dry conditions in the preserve, the National Park Service had banned all open fires there. Controlled flame devices, such as portable stoves and lanterns with shutoff valves using gas, jellied petroleum, or pressured fuel were permited in all areas.

In addition, the following restrictions apply during extreme fire danger:

• No campfires are allowed anywhere in the preserve.
• No charcoal fires for grills or BBQs.
• No smoking outside within 10 feet of any vegetation. Use safe areas like parking lots or campsites. Do not throw cigarette butts out of car windows or litter on the ground. Extinguish and dispose of safely and properly.
• Fireworks and firecrackers are prohibited at anytime in the preserve.
• Do not collect or cut firewood in the preserve.