Ferguson Fire  Photo credit: Inciweb

Update: 6:53 A.M.

The Ferguson Fire was active along most every front Saturday as it grew to 30,493 acres and fire crews worked to bolster lines and keep containment to 6%. Most of the new completed line is in the Jerseydale area.

Firefighters attempted a direct attack on the portion of the fire on the Stanislaus National Forest but terrain and fire behavior forced them to backoff midday as conditions grew too dangerous ot safely engage. Crews have scouted and planned to use the road system around the Soapstone Ridge/Ned Gulch vicinity as their holding line.

Crews also worked to install hose lays throughout the northwest and west containment lines to provide direct and indirect protection to El Portal and Yosemite West. Burnout operations within the Sweetwater Creek area have been successful and continue to progress.

The weather will get warmer and drier in the coming days but most of the fire activity and behavior is dominated by the thick fuels and rugged topography found in the area.

Yosemite National Park remains open. For information on Yosemite National Park, go to: nps.gov/yose 
or call 209-372-0200

Mandatory Evacuations: Areas that are currently under a mandatory evacuation include:

• Incline Road from Foresta Bridge to the last BLM campground

• Jerseydale/ Mariposa Pines

• Cedar Lodge/ Indian Flat Campground

• Savage’s Trading Post

• Sweetwater Ridge

• El Portal Trailer Court

• Rancheria Flat - Government Housing

• Old El Portal

• Yosemite View Lodge

• Foresta

• Yosemite West

• Anderson Valley

Adv isory Evacuations: This is NOT an Evacuation Order. This is an advisement only of a potential Evacuation Order should conditions change.

• Lushmeadows Community

• Ponderosa Basin Community

• Triangle Road from Jeresydale Road to Highway 49 South including all side roads.

• Darrah Road from Triangle to Sherrod Road.

• East side of Highway 49 South from Darrah Road to Harris Road - This includes Boyer Road, Woodland Area, Wass Road, Tip Top Road.

Evacuation Center(s): New Life Christian Fellowship: 5089 Cole Road, Mariposa, CA 95338.

Road Closures: Highway 140 is closed from the entrance of Yosemite National Park to 1.5 miles West of Midpines. Incline Road, River Road from Briceburg to the gate at Railroad Flat and all Campground areas along Highway 140 closed. Hites Cove / Jerseydale Road, Foresta Road, and Anderson Valley Road. 

Animal Shelters: Small animals: SPCA of Mariposa County 5599 California 49, Mariposa, CA 95338

Large animals 5007 Fairgrounds Road, Mariposa, CA 95338.

July 22, 2018 - Awahanee, CA. - The Ferguson Fire started July 13 on the Sierra National Forest and is managed under unified command between the United States Forest Service, California Interagency Incident Management Team 4, CALFIRE and the Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office. Much of the fire is burning in steep, rugged terrain with little to no access roads. Mandatory and advisory evacuations are in place in several areas but no homes have been damaged or destroyed. 

The Ferguson Fire is burning in very rough terrain with high firefighter exposure due to very hot conditions and limited access requiring heavy rotor wing support. The fire grew more than 2,500 acres throughout the day and into the night hours Friday. Prior to the Rough Fire, this river canyon held the record for the largest fire on the Sierra NF which burned in 1924.

Secretary of the Interior, Ryan Zinke visited the Ferguson Fire in Mariposa County.

Yosemite National Park remains open.

The fire is 30,493 acres with 6% containment. 2,903 personnel are currently engaged on the fire which includes 204 engines, 38 water tenders, 17 helicopters, 72 crews, and 42 dozers. There has been 1 fatality and 4 injuries to date.

Road Closures: 
Hwy 140 is closed from 1.9 miles east of Midpines to the Cedar Lodge area MOTORISTS ARE ADVISED TO USE AN ALTERNATE ROUTE 

Mandatory Evacuations: 
These area are currently under a mandatory evacuation include: 
El Portal Trailer Court
Incline Rd from Clearing House to the last BLM campground
Jerseydale/ Mariposa Pines
Cedar Lodge/ Indian Flat Campground
Savage’s Trading Post
Sweetwater Ridge 
El Portal Trailer Court
Rancheria Flat - Government Housing
Old El Portal 
Yosemite View Lodge
Foresta
Yosemite West

Evacuation Advisory: 
This is NOT an Evacuation Order. This is an advisement only of a potential Evacuation Order should conditions change. 
• Lushmeadows Community 
• Ponderosa Basin Community 
• Triangle Rd from Jerseydale Rd to Hwy 49 South including all side roads. 
• Darrah Rd from Triangle to Sherrod Rd 
• East side of Hwy 49S from Darrah Rd to Harris Rd- This includes Boyer Rd, Woodland Area, Wass Rd, Tip Top Rd 

Evacuation Center: 
New Life Christian Fellowship, 5089 Cole Rd, Mariposa, CA 95338

Animal Shelters: Small animals, SPCA, 5599 California 49, Mariposa, CA 95338 and large animals, Mariposa County Fairgrounds, 5007Fairgrounds Road, Mariposa, CA 95338

Donations: When you want to help

Incident Command Post (ICP): The incident base for the Ferguson Fire is located in Ahwanee Regional Park.

Cooperators: California Highway Patrol, CalTrans, Pacific Gas and Electric, California Conservation Corps, Mariposa County Public Works and the American Red Cross