Update: for 8:00 P.M.
JULY 30, 2014 8:00 P.M. Big Oak Flat Road Re-Opens in Yosemite National Park
Big Oak Flat Road Re-Opens in Yosemite National Park
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Incident Overview
Fire Start: July 26, 2014, 5:00 P.M.
Location: Old El Portal and Foresta
Cause: Under investigation
Size: 3900 acres
Percent Contained: 34%
Incident Commander: Carlton Joseph/California Interagency Incident Management Team 5 (CIIMT5)
Fire Summary: Today the fire made a one-half to three-quarter mile run in the Crane Creek area. Two small spots were detected in front of the head of the fire. Both spots have been lined and controlled. Smoky conditions challenged air resources. Smoke on the northwest side of the fire obscured viewing of the fire perimeter.The Dark Hole fire had a wetting rain on it today.Thunderstorms have increased the threat of lightning. Poor relative humidity recovery above the thermal belt will lead to active fire behavior tonight.
Total Number of Personnel: 1063
Costs to Date: $4,400,000
Threats: The community of Foresta remains under a mandatory evacuation order. High voltage transmission lines serving El Portal, Foresta, and Merced Sequoia grove.
Special Announcements: Mitigation of hazards in the community Foresta continues to accommodate the eventual safe return of residents to their homes.
-NPS-
Basic Information
| Current as of | 7/30/2014 7:32:28 PM |
|---|---|
| Incident Type | Wildfire |
| Cause | Unknown |
| Date of Origin | Saturday July 26th, 2014 approx. 05:00 PM |
| Location | Communities of El Portal, Foresta in Yosemite Park and Stanislaus National Forest |
| Incident Commander | Carlton Joesph |
Current Situation
| Total Personnel | 1,063 |
|---|---|
| Size | 3,900 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 | Under an unstable air mass, the fire moved 1/2 mile to the northwest demonstrating active fire behavior with spotting. Continued evacuations of Foresta. |
Outlook
| Planned Actions | Continued mop-up and mitigation of hazards in the community of Foresta. Create and continue containment and contingency line construction taking advantage of previously constructed line from past fires. Prepare existing roads for potential firing operations. |
|---|---|
| Projected Incident Activity | Fire spread predominately to the north and northwest. Potential spread west toward Moss Canyon. |
| Remarks | Extremely steep and remote terrain required heavy dependence on Type 1 Hand Crews and aviation assets. Reduction of threat to community of Foresta, but threat still exists with evacuations continuing to allow mop up and hazard mitigation. Fire Suppression Repair Plans are being developed. Two additional injuries to firefighters today. |
Current Weather
| Weather Concerns | The dry air mass that set up over the fire encouraged the active fire behavior today. The threat of thunderstorms were carefully monitored throughout the operational period. |
|---|
Update: 4:20 P.M.
NEW Road Information - Read Closely*
Update from Fire Information Call Center (209-372-0327 or 0328):
Due to afternoon activity on the El Portal Fire -- Information is subject to change.
Big Oak Flat Road is now open from Crane Flat to the junction of Highway 140.
Big Oak Flat Road is closed at the Big Oak Flat entrance station to Crane Flat.
Tioga Road remains open to Crane Flat Gas Station.
Hodgdon Campground remains open.
Update: 12:51 P.M.
Mariposa County Health Department Issues Statement on Health Impacts from El Portal Wildfire Smoke
July 30, 2014 - Mariposa County is currently experiencing smoke impacts from several wild fires burning in the Sierras.
Smoke impacts vary from moderate to unhealthy for sensitive groups.
The Mariposa County Health Department and Air Pollution Control District recommend that you take the following steps in order to limit your exposure:
1. Limit your outdoor activities, especially children and people with chronic heart and lung diseases.
2. Remain inside air conditioned buildings. Note: If you don't have an air conditioner, staying inside with the windows closed may be dangerous in extremely hot weather. In these cases, seek alternative shelter.
3. If you have asthma or other lung diseases, make sure you follow your doctor’s instructions about taking your medicines and following your asthma management plan. Call your doctor if your symptoms worsen.
4. If you are an older adult, have children, or if you have heart or lung diseases, talk with your doctor about whether you should leave the area.
Looking at the fire from NPS Camera at Turtleback Dome.
Update: 8:30 A.M.
El Portal Fire MODIS Fire Activity 0815vMDT Tuesday Jul 30 2014.
The satellite signatures are overlaid on the official fire perimeter from Jul 28 2014 2240 PDT -- the latest available.
No new fire signatures overnight. (note by Joe Coho)
Thanks to Joe Coho for the Map.
Update 7:50 A.M.
3,545 Acres with 34% Containment
Basic Information
| Current as of | 7/30/2014 7:46:13 AM |
|---|---|
| Incident Type | Wildfire |
| Cause | Unknown |
| Date of Origin | Saturday July 26th, 2014 approx. 05:00 PM |
| Location | Communities of El Portal, Foresta in Yosemite Park and Stanislaus National Forest |
| Incident Commander | Carlton Joesph |
Current Situation
| Total Personnel | 864 |
|---|---|
| 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 | Active burning until 0200 in the Northwest areas of the fire with single and group tree torching with short range spotting. Continued closure of Big Oak Flat Road-a major access route to the Yosemite Valley. |
Outlook
| Planned Actions | Continued mop-up and mitigation of hazards in the community of Foresta. Hold and improve completed containment lines. Construct hand and dozer lines in the northern portion of the fire. Prepare existing roads for potential firing operations. |
|---|---|
| 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. Potential threat to community of Foresta still exists with evacuations continuing to allow mop up and hazard mitigation. 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% |
|---|
A look at the El Portal Fire from NPS camera on Turtleback Dome early this morning.
Map showing dozer lines and firebreak lines
'Click' here to view larger map
Thanks to Joe Coho for the map.
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 |
|---|---|
| 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 |
|---|---|
| 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. |
|---|---|
| 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% |
|---|
