Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Fire Near Yosemite Grows To 43,000 Acres. Brown Declares Emergency.
GV-Wire-1
By gvwire
Published 7 years ago on
July 26, 2018

Share

California Gov. Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency in Mariposa County on Thursday afternoon because of the deadly Ferguson Fire.
Earlier Thursday, the governor declared emergencies due to wildfires in Riverside and Shasta counties.
Firefighters worked through Wednesday night to expand and strengthen containment lines around the wildfire west of Yosemite National Park, officials said Thursday morning.
The fire grew by 1,723 acres overnight to a total of 43,299 acres as of 6 a.m. Thursday.
Authorities said that it is now 27% contained.
Mariposa County emergency declaration
Second half of Ferguson Fire emergency declaration
Firefighters and bulldozers worked through the night improving and expanding containment lines, particularly near Magoon Creek, to isolate the spread of a fire that had slopped over an existing containment line the previous morning along the fire’s southern perimeter, according to the fire command report.
Along the north edge of the fire, bulldozers and firefighters completed a containment line from the Five Corners area to Pilot Peak.
Meanwhile, crews worked to dig a containment line from the boundary of the Stanislaus National Forest to the fire’s perimeter.
Firing operations expanded the width of the containment line protecting the community of El Portal to more than 500 feet in some areas.
While some residents were allowed to return to their homes in portions of Jerseydale and Mariposa Pines southwest of the fire, crews continued patrolling structures and monitoring containment lines within areas still under evacuation.

Community Meetings Thursday and Friday Nights

Representatives from the U.S. Forest Service, Cal Fire and the Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office will present an overview of the situation and containment efforts in Mariposa at 6 p.m. Thursday, July 26, at the Mariposa Fairgrounds, Sequoia Hall.
There will be a community meeting at 6 p.m. Friday, July 27, at Tenaya Elementary School in Groveland, as well.

The Suppression Effort

Officials said Thursday morning that 3,686 personnel are fighting the wildfire. They are backed by 241 engines, 47 water tenders, 18 helicopters, 94 crews, and 63 dozers.
There has been one fatality and seven injuries. Bulldozer operator Braden Varney was killed July 14
One structure has been destroyed.

Remaining Yosemite Valley Campers Left Wednesday

The few remaining campers in Yosemite Valley packed up their gear Wednesday.

“So, this is a new memory. I’ve never been evacuated before.” — Yosemite visitor Miguel Martinez
The sun rose in a smoke-filled sky over the scenic valley, which normally bustles with summer tourists but has largely emptied out after authorities reluctantly ordered the closure Tuesday.
Officials were quick to point out that Yosemite wasn’t under imminent danger from the fire. Authorities decided on the closure to allow crews to perform protective measures such as burning brush along roadways without having to deal with traffic in the park that welcomes 4 million visitors annually.
One couple checked out of the Majestic Yosemite Hotel, while a large extended family from Los Angeles on an annual trip to the national park prepared to leave the Upper Pines campground.
“Very disappointed,” Lisa Salgado said. “We look forward to this all year. This is the trip of our summer.”
The group arrived Monday and had planned to stay through Saturday. Instead, they packed tents and other gear into vehicles, hoping they could find another campground elsewhere.
“So, this is a new memory,” said Miguel Martinez. “I’ve never been evacuated before.”

Yosemite Valley Closed Through Sunday

Yosemite Valley will be closed until at least Sunday, along with a winding, mountainous, 20-mile stretch of California’s Highway 41 that leads into the area, park spokesman Scott Gediman said.
At least 1,000 campground and hotel bookings will be canceled — to say nothing of the impact on daily visitors, park workers and small businesses along the highway, Gediman said. Rangers went to campsites one at a time to inform visitors of the closures. Hotels guests got phone calls and notes on their doors.
“This is the prime visitor season, so this wasn’t an easy decision to make,” Gediman said. “This was purely for safety’s sake.”
The last time the 7.5-mile-long valley was closed because of fire was 1990, he said.
Map of Ferguson Fire through July 26, 2018
Ferguson Fire map as of 9 a.m. Thursday, July 26. 

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Chargers in Need of Help at Wide Receiver and Tight End in the NFL Draft

DON'T MISS

Magic Happens When Kids and Adults Learn to Swim. Tragedy Can Strike if They Don’t.

DON'T MISS

Big Fresno Fair Board Will Be Led by an American Sikh for 1st Time

DON'T MISS

AI ‘Friend’ for Public School Students Falls Flat

DON'T MISS

Is a ‘Friend-Apist’ What We Really Want From Therapy?

DON'T MISS

Yemen’s Houthi Rebels Report US Strikes in the Capital and a Coastal City

DON'T MISS

Progressive Icon and Ex-US Rep. Barbara Lee Wins Race for Mayor of Oakland

DON'T MISS

Humanoid Robots Run a Chinese Half-Marathon Alongside Human Competitors

DON'T MISS

Bakersfield Push to Restore Kern River Seeks to Revitalize City

DON'T MISS

Anti-Trump Protesters Turn Out to Rallies Across Country

UP NEXT

Magic Happens When Kids and Adults Learn to Swim. Tragedy Can Strike if They Don’t.

UP NEXT

Big Fresno Fair Board Will Be Led by an American Sikh for 1st Time

UP NEXT

AI ‘Friend’ for Public School Students Falls Flat

UP NEXT

Progressive Icon and Ex-US Rep. Barbara Lee Wins Race for Mayor of Oakland

UP NEXT

Humanoid Robots Run a Chinese Half-Marathon Alongside Human Competitors

UP NEXT

Bakersfield Push to Restore Kern River Seeks to Revitalize City

UP NEXT

Anti-Trump Protesters Turn Out to Rallies Across Country

UP NEXT

250 Years After America Went to War for Independence, a Divided Nation Battles Over Its Legacy

UP NEXT

Greg Cronin Fired as Coach of Anaheim Ducks After 2 Seasons

UP NEXT

Israeli Strikes on Gaza Kill More Than 90 People in 48 Hours, Palestinians Say

AI ‘Friend’ for Public School Students Falls Flat

18 hours ago

Is a ‘Friend-Apist’ What We Really Want From Therapy?

18 hours ago

Yemen’s Houthi Rebels Report US Strikes in the Capital and a Coastal City

1 day ago

Progressive Icon and Ex-US Rep. Barbara Lee Wins Race for Mayor of Oakland

1 day ago

Humanoid Robots Run a Chinese Half-Marathon Alongside Human Competitors

1 day ago

Bakersfield Push to Restore Kern River Seeks to Revitalize City

1 day ago

Anti-Trump Protesters Turn Out to Rallies Across Country

1 day ago

Universal Studios Fan Fest 2025 to Feature Immersive D&D Attraction and More

2 days ago

Thousands Gather in London for Trans Rights Following UK Ruling Over Definition of Woman

2 days ago

250 Years After America Went to War for Independence, a Divided Nation Battles Over Its Legacy

2 days ago

Chargers in Need of Help at Wide Receiver and Tight End in the NFL Draft

EL SEGUNDO — In their first season together, Los Angeles Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz and coach Jim Harbaugh rebuilt the team enough ...

17 hours ago

17 hours ago

Chargers in Need of Help at Wide Receiver and Tight End in the NFL Draft

17 hours ago

Magic Happens When Kids and Adults Learn to Swim. Tragedy Can Strike if They Don’t.

17 hours ago

Big Fresno Fair Board Will Be Led by an American Sikh for 1st Time

18 hours ago

AI ‘Friend’ for Public School Students Falls Flat

18 hours ago

Is a ‘Friend-Apist’ What We Really Want From Therapy?

1 day ago

Yemen’s Houthi Rebels Report US Strikes in the Capital and a Coastal City

1 day ago

Progressive Icon and Ex-US Rep. Barbara Lee Wins Race for Mayor of Oakland

1 day ago

Humanoid Robots Run a Chinese Half-Marathon Alongside Human Competitors

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend