Friday Ferguson Fire Progression Map
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Engines: 261 Water Tenders: 55 Helicopters: 16 Crews: 93 Dozers: 79 Total Personnel: 3,821
July 27, 2018 - Fergsuon Fire update:
While weather conditions were conducive around much of the Ferguson Fire for firefighters to shore up and expand containment lines, an evening wind shift posed a potential challenge to an already challenging section of the fire. By morning, officials reported a 1,688-acre growth in the fire overnight for to a total of 45,911 acres as of 6 a.m. Containment, however, rose to 29 percent.
Crews along the western perimeter worked on isolated hot spots inside the fire line. To the north, firefighters improved upon existing containment lines, with plans to scout out potential containment lines closer to the fire’s edge during daylight hours. While on the east side, firefighters continued with firing operations to remove available fuels between the fire and the communities of Yosemite West and El Portal.
To the south, crews worked in steep terrain to widen and extend constructed containment lines designed to redirect fire that had jumped existing lines two days prior. Whereas daytime winds out of the southwest aided firefighters’ efforts by directing the fire back into its original perimeter, a forecasted shift to winds blowing out of the north would redirect flames toward the firefighters and the newly constructed containment lines.
Winds made a noticeable shift out of the north around 8 p.m., but mild wind speeds coupled with increased nighttime humidity limited the fire’s progression. Crews meanwhile were successful in building additional contingency lines for added protection to nearby communities.
Firefighters will expand on these efforts today as a persistent inversion layer is expected to shield the fire from excessively high temperatures, while winds are expected to return out of the west-southwest.
Yosemite National Park closure: Yosemite National Park officials enacted closures Wednesday for the Yosemite Valley and Wawona areas, as well as the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias. For information on Yosemite National Park, go to: nps.gov/yose or call 209-372-0200.
Community Meeting: Representatives from the U.S. Forest Service, CAL FIRE and Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office met with residents during a community meeting at 6 p.m. today at Tenaya Elementary School in Groveland.
