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Update: 4:54 P.M. 

Suppression efforts continue on the approximately 250 acre Dog Rock Fire in Yosemite National Park. Air and ground attack has been aided by favorable weather conditions, which have resulted in minimal fire growth on the western boundary of the park near the Highway 140 entrance. Currently, there is no estimate on the fire’s containment; however crews continue to make significant progress. The National Park Service is being assisted by the United States Forest Service and the California Interagency Incident Management Team 3.

Highway 140 into Yosemite National Park remains closed at the park boundary. Yosemite National Park remains open and Yosemite Valley can be accessed via highways 41, 120 west, and 120 east via Tioga Pass. Campgrounds, hotels, and other visitor services are open and operating at normal hours. The evacuation of the community of Foresta is still in effect.

“With great sadness, the Yosemite National Park community would like to express its deepest condolences to CAL FIRE for the loss of pilot, Geoffrey “Craig” Hunt. Yesterday, Craig lost his life fighting the Dog Rock Fire,” stated Don Neubacher, Yosemite National Park Superintendent. “He died serving and protecting the public from wildland fire. As members of the wildland firefighting community, we also mourn his loss and our thoughts are with his family and loved ones.” 

All inquiries regarding the accident involving Hunt, the CAL FIRE pilot who died in yesterday’s accident, should be referred to CAL FIRE Public Information Officer Daniel Berlant at (916) 651-3473.

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Update: 1:47 P.M. Pilot Killed in Fatal Airtanker Crashed Identified

Sacramento - CAL FIRE officials today released the identity of the pilot killed in yesterday’s airtanker crash in Yosemite National Park.

Geoffrey “Craig” Hunt, age 62, of San Jose was a 13 year veteran pilot of Dyncorp International under contract with CAL FIRE.

“We continue to mourn the tragic loss of Craig,” said Chief Ken Pimlott, CAL FIRE director. “We know wildland firefighting is an inherently dangerous job, but Craig made the ultimate sacrifice.”
“Our thoughts and prayers are with Craig’s family during this difficult time,” said Jeff Cavarra, program director for DynCorp International.

Today the National Transportation Safety Board has assumed command of the investigation and CAL FIRE continues to support them.

And

Coroner Investigation

The Mariposa County Sheriff's office is jurisdictionally responsible for the Coroner's Investigation in relation to the CAL Fire aircraft incident while assigned to the Dog Fire.

The recovered pilot will be transported to the Medical Examiner.

The identification on the pilot is pending and the release of his name will be coordinated with the appropriate involved agencies.

The transports to the medical examiner will be conducted under ceremonial escort.

Our thought and prayers are with the pilot's family and the CAL FIRE family.

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Update: 9:07 A.M.

• The Dog Rock Fire, which began yesterday afternoon in El Portal, is currently at 200 acres, with 0% containment.
• Highway 140 remains closed at least throughout today, it will likely be a minimum of 24-48 hours before it is re-opened.  
• Electrical power remains out in Yosemite Valley but is likely to be restored within 48 hours if conditions improve. 
• Evacuation orders are still in effect for residents of Foresta. There are no other evacuation orders at this time.
• All of the other areas of the park remain open. California Highways 41, 120 - Big Oak Flat Road and Tioga Pass as well as the road immediately in the valley remain open. 
• Smoke will likely be prevalent in El Portal in the morning and in Yosemite Valley in the afternoon. 
• The Fire information lines are: 209-372-0327, 372-0328, and 372-0329.

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Update: 8:09 A.M.

150 acres, 0% Contained

Type 3 ICT3 (Mills) during day and ICT3 (Wills) at night in command.

Type 1 Short IMT3 Pincha-Tulley activated.

Briefing today at 13:00 El Portal Community Hall.

Fire is currently north of Hwy 140, burning uphill towards community of Foresta and the Big Oak Flat Rd.

Community of Foresta has been evacuated and remains threatened.

Power lines de-energized for safety of ground responders.

Steep terrain is making suppression efforts difficult.

Commitment of Forest Service air and ground resources.