Fire in El Portal Near Yosemite National Park on Tuesday, July 29, 2014
Update: 11:50 P.M.
El Portal Fire MODIS Fire Activity 2215 MDT Tuesday, Jul 29 2014.
The satellite signatures are overlaid on the official fire perimeter from Jul 28 2014 2240 PDT with a semi-transparent topographic background. The MODIS signatures may indicate that the fire was moving West across the Northern perimeter during the day, as the fire signatures move in that direction. Inciweb (7-29-14) says,
"Fire officials do remain concerned over the fire’s growth on the north and northeast sections of the fire perimeter as efforts continue to address problem spots along these areas." (note by Joe Coho)
Thanks to Joe Coho for the map.
Turtleback Dome 1901 hrs July 29 2014 NPS Photo
Update: 10:00 P.M.
JULY 29, 2014 8:00 P.M. Fire Start: July 26th, 2014 5 P.M.
Location: Old El Portal and Foresta
Cause: Under Investigation
Size: 3545 acres
Percent Contained: 34%
Incident Commander: Carlton Joseph/California Interagency Incident Management Team 5 (CIIMT5)
Fire Summary:
Today’s effort on the El Portal fire resulted in an improved percentage of containment on the southern portion of the fire as well as some steady improvement upon the lower western and easter flanks of the fire. Fire officials do remain concerned over the fire’s growth on the north and northeast sections of the fire perimeter as efforts continue to address problem spots along these areas. Steep, rugged terrain continues to challenge the efforts of firefighters but progress is being made. The weather forecast calls for continued high temperatures reaching as high as 100 degrees near El Portal. These patterns will continue as a high pressure over the region remains stationary. Thunderstorm activity, if any, is predicted to stay to the east of the fire. Fire activity is expected to continue through evening particularly in the north and northeast sections of the fire as a result of poor overnight relative humidity recovery.
Information Phones: Yosemite Call Center: (209) 372-0327 or (209) 372-0328
Total Number of Personnel: 864
Threats: Communities of Old El Portal and Foresta. High voltage transmission lines serving
El Portal, Foresta and Merced Sequoia grove.
Road Closures: Big Oak Flat Road between Crane Flat and El Portal Road
Special Information: An additional 224 personnel have arrived to meet the needs of the El Portal fire. Limited threats posed by the Dark Hole fire has reduced staffing to 31 personnel.
California Interagency Incident Mangagement Team 5
Incident Commander Carlton Joseph
Basic Information
Current as of | 7/29/2014 7:27:16 PM |
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Incident Type | Wildfire |
Cause | Unknown |
Date of Origin | Saturday July 26th, 2014 approx. 03:15 PM |
Location | Communities of El Portal, Foresta in Yosemite Park and Stanislaus National Forest |
Incident Commander | Carlton Joesph |
Current Situation
Total Personnel | 864 |
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Size | 3,545 Acres |
Percent of Perimeter Contained | 34% |
Percent of Perimeter To Be Contained | 66% |
Fuels Involved | Chaparral (6 feet) Brush, Chaparral, grass, Oak, Woodland at lower elevations. Timber (Pine, Cedar) at elevations above 4500 feet. |
Significant Events | Moderate rates of spread. Occasional single and group tree torching.Continued closure of Big Oak Flat Road-a major access route to the Yosemite Valley. |
Outlook
Planned Actions | Continued structure defense. Hold and improve completed containment lines. Construct hand and dozer lines. Prepare existing roads for future firing operations. Provide structure defense. |
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Projected Incident Activity | Fire spread predominately to the North and Northeast. Potential spread west into Moss Canyon. |
Remarks | Extremely steep and remote terrain required heavy dependence on Type 1 Hand Crews and aviation assets. The community of Foresta remains threatened. Structure defense and evacuations continue. The significant natural resources of Merced Grove Giant Sequoia within Yosemite National Park is threatened. The Big Oak Flat Road between State Highway 120 and Yosemite Valley is closed during peak visitor season creating a major impact to the local economy of the Gateway communities of Yosemite National Park and limits visitor access to the Park itself. Fire suppression Repair Plans are being developed. |
Current Weather
Weather Concerns | Poor overnight humidity recovery to around 30% |
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Update: 2:30 P.M.
El Portal Fire as of 1400 MDT Tuesday Jul 29 2014.
The satellite signatures are overlaid on an map of fire activity derived from infrared mapping.
The GIANT SEQUOIA groves are shown in relationship to the fire. (note by Joe Coho)
Thanks to Joe Coho for the map.
Update: 2:00 P.M.
JULY 29, 2014 10:00 AM
Fire Start: July 26th, 2014 5 P.M.
Location: Old El Portal and Foresta
Cause: Under Investigation
Size: 3,060 acres
Percent Contained: 19%
Incident Commander: Carlton Joseph/California Interagency Incident Management Team 5 (CIIMT5)
Fire Summary:Last evening on the El Portal fire the night shift reported active fire until approximately 1:30 A.M. after which conditions settled down. Today’s areas of concern are concentrated on the northern portion of the fire as the fireline bumps into the burn perimeter of the 2009 Big Meadow Fire. Fire crews and aviation assets will continue to combat the fire which is seated in very steep, remote terrain. Vegetation in this area and throughout the state remains in critical, historic drought conditions.
The Dark Hole fire, also being managed by CIIMT 5 remains at just over 500 acres as a smoldering, creeping fire in the understory. As threats from this fire are minimal fire resources have been largely concentrated on the El Portal.
Information Phones: Yosemite Call Center: (209) 372-0327 or (209) 372-0328
Total Number of Personnel: 640
Threats: Communities of Old El Portal and Foresta. High voltage transmission lines serving El Portal, Foresta and Merced Sequoia grove.
Road Closures: Big Oak Flat Road between Crane Flat and El Portal Road
Special Information: A community meeting was held in Old El Portal last evening with 95 people in attendance. The mandatory evacuation was lifted for Old El Portal however the mandatory evacuation remains in effect for the community of Foresta.
California Interagency Incident Mangagement Team 5Incident Commander Carlton Joseph
Current as of | 7/29/2014 1:26:04 PM |
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Incident Type | Wildfire |
Cause | Unknown |
Date of Origin | Saturday July 26th, 2014 approx. 03:15 PM |
Location | Communities of El Portal, Foresta in Yosemite Park and Stanislaus National Forest |
Incident Commander | Carlton Joesph |
Total Personnel | 640 |
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Size | 3,060 Acres |
Percent of Perimeter Contained | 19% |
Percent of Perimeter To Be Contained | 81% |
Fuels Involved | Chaparral (6 feet) Brush, Chaparral, grass, Oak, Woodland at lower elevations. Timber (Pine, Cedar) at elevations above 4500 feet. |
Significant Events | Fire behavior was moderate at lower elevations. Poor overnight humidity recovery provided for single and group tree torching with short range spotting above the thermal belt, particularly in the northern most areas of the fire, active backing and flanking fire in some locations. Continued evacuations of communities of El Portal and Foresta. Continued closure of Big Oak Flat Road-a major access route to the Yosemite Valley. |
Outlook
Planned Actions | Continued structure defense. Hold and improve completed containment lines. Construct hand and dozer lines. Prepare existing roads for future firing operations. Provide structure defense. |
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Projected Incident Activity | Moving in and around the community of Foresta on east. West into Moss Canyon, Northwest toward Big Oak Flat Road. Largest concern is potential spread of 1/2 to 1 mile North towards State Highway 120 and Crane Flat as well as Northwest toward Merced Sequoia Grove. |
Remarks | Extremely steep and remote terrain required heavy dependence on Type 1 Hand Crews and aviation assets. The communities of El Portal and Foresta remain threatened. Structure defense and evacuations continue. The significant natural resources of Merced Grove Giant Sequoia within Yosemite National Park is threatened. The Big Oak Flat Road between State Highway 120 and Yosemite Valley is closed during peak visitor season creating a major impact to the local economy of the Gateway communities of Yosemite National Park and limits visitor access to the Park itself. A public meeting was held in El Portal last evening. Re-population of evacuees from the community of the El Portal will begin at 0900 this morning. Number of resources assigned continue to be evaluated and adjusted as data is being captured regarding those resources carried over from the initial attack stage of the fire. |
Current Weather
Weather Concerns | Continued heat with temperatures nearing 100 degrees and low humidities. |
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Updated: 1:35 P.M.
Update: 1:30 P.M.
Fire Boundary Map
Update: 12:40 P.M.
MODIS and AVHRR fire activity for El Portal Fire as of 1245 MDT Tuesday Jul 29 2014.
The satellite signatures are overlaid on an map of fire activity derived from infrared mapping.
The latest signatures were detected by Terra satellite MODIS as of 2330 PDT Monday July 28.
The fire seems to be progressing uphill toward the Big Oak Flat Road which corresponds to images from the Turtleback Dome webcam for Monday July 28 2014. (note by Joe Coho)
Thanks to Joe Coho for the map.
Update: 11:30 A.M.
MODIS and AVHRR fire activity for El Portal Fire as of 1200 MDT Tuesday Jul 29 2014.
Note the latest signatures were detected by Terra satellite MODIS as of 2330 PDT Monday July 28.
The fire seems to be progressing uphill toward the Big Oak Flat Road which corresponds to images from the Turtleback Dome webcam for Monday July 28 2014. (note by Joe Coho)
Thanks to Joe Coho for the Map.
Update: 10:52 A.M.
Click Here for the Big Map
Update: 9:48 A.M.
The Yosemite apple picking event that is due to take place in the park tomorrow, July 30, has been postponed.
The event will be rescheduled at a later day. An announcement will be made when more details are available.
Update: 9:10 A.M.
Update 8:23 A.M.
3,060 Acres, 19% contained.
Continued closure of Big Oak Flat Road.
Evacuations continued of communities of Foresta.
Repopulation of evacuees from the community of El Portal will begin 0900.
Merced Grove of Giant Sequoias within Yosemite National Park still threatened.
Commitment of forest service air and ground resources.
Modis Fire Detection Map
MODIS and AVHRR fire detections for El Portal Fire as of 0015 MDT Tuesday Jul 29 2014.
Also, there may be some inaccuracy in the fire boundaries depicted for Sunday July 28, because more sophisticated boundary mapping technology was not available on Sunday. (note by Joe Coho)
Thanks to Joe Coho for the map.
Update Monday Evening:
El Portal Fire Re-Entry Information: Old El Portal Residence Only - 7/29/14 at 9:00 a.m.
Resident check in at Community Hall
Residence will need to check in at the Community Hall prior to returning to their homes.
They are no longer located at the Tenaya Lodge in Fish Camp.