Monday Operations Map

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Engines: 203 Water Tenders: 20 Helicopters: 14 Crews: 40 Dozers: 33 Total Personnel: 2,698

August 5, 2018 - Note: Crew and water tender numbers now reflect tactical crews and equipment engaged on the fire. Previous numbers reflected camp crews and water tenders used to support fire camp.

Firefighters focused on three priority areas today as they made progress toward full suppression of the Ferguson Fire. The fire stayed at 89,633 acres throughout the day and was at 38 percent containment. This fire is being managed as a full-suppression fire.

Along the northern perimeter of the fire, crews kept the fire from crossing Highway 120 above Merced Grove. Crews will start falling hazardous trees along the roadway when heat subsides to secure the highway. Firefighters will look for opportunities in the coming days to perform tactical burning along Montgomery Ridge to secure the northern portion of the fire.

Bulldozers constructed containment lines and firefighters initiated tactical firing from the tunnel of Big Oak Flat Road toward Highway 140 to contain fire spreading northeast from Foresta. Firefighters are exploring options to secure the back side of the fire to keep it from burning back into the communities of El Portal and Old El Portal. Fire did not challenge containment lines around those or other communities along the Highway 140 corridor. Structure defense specialists and law enforcement remained within all evacuated communities.

Containment lines were identified to box in the fire that has spread into Yosemite National Park. Construction began on a line from Elephant Rock to the burn scar of the 2017 Empire Fire using roads and natural features. A southern containment line was identified along a former service road leading toward Badger Pass.

Yosemite Park officials today extended the closure of Yosemite Valley and nearby attractions because of increased fire activity. Officials reported fire has impacted all roads into the valley. Steep terrain, dense forests of beetle-killed trees, unstable slopes and other hazards have made securing the area a challenge.

Yosemite National Park is accessible from the east out of Lee Vining. Tioga Pass Road provides access to the Tuolumne Meadows Visitor Center, the Pacific Crest and John Muir trails and several prominent peaks.

To the south, firefighters completed tactical burning from the spot fires south of Wawona to the South Fork of the Merced River. Increased fire activity has consumed sections of unburned vegetation further within the interior, reducing the likelihood of future spotting. Once cooled, the southeast perimeter of the fire should be secured, freeing up resources to assist with other parts of the fire.

Warm, dry conditions continue to cause active fire behavior which is challenging suppression efforts. Residents will continue to see smoke and multiple smoke columns. Air quality and health advisories are available at the Wildland Fire Air Quality Response Program for the Yosemite area and Southern Sierra area.

The fire has burned at varying intensities throughout the fire’s footprint to leave a diversity of landscape characteristics which benefit vegetation and wildlife.

Stanislaus National Forest closure: Stanislaus National Forest officials closed several roads and trails on the Groveland Ranger District within the vicinity of the Ferguson Fire. The closure order spans from Ferguson Ridge in the south to Pilot Ridge in the north. The closure is expected to be in effect until Sept. 30.

Yosemite National Park closure: Yosemite Valley, Wawona Road, the Mariposa and Merced groves of giant sequoias, Hetch Hetchy, among other areas, are closed. The east side of the park remains open out of Lee Vining along the Tioga Pass Road. For more information, go to nps.gov/yose or call 209-372-0200.

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

•  Anderson Valley
•  Cedar Lodge/Indian Flat Campground
•  El Portal Trailer Court
•  Foresta
•  Incline Road
•  Old El Portal
•  Old Yosemite Road
•  Rancheria Flat – Government Housing
•  River Road from Briceburg to the last BLM campground
•  Savage’s Trading Post
•  Wawona
•  Yosemite Valley
•  Yosemite View Lodge
•  Yosemite West

Road Closures:

•  Anderson Valley Road
•  Big Oak Flat Road (Highway 120) from entrance of Yosemite National Park to Crane Flat.
•  Foresta Road
•  Highway 140 from the entrance of Yosemite National Park to 1.5 miles east of Midpines
•  Incline Road
•  River Road from Briceburg to the gate at Railroad Flat and all campground areas along Highway 140
•  Summit Road
•  Old Yosemite Road (Coulterville Road)
•  Wawona Road (Highway 41) between Chilnualna Falls Road in Wawona and Bridalveil Falls parking lot in Yosemite Valley

Red Cross Shelter:

• New Life Christian Fellowship: 5089 Cole Road, Mariposa, CA 95338

Animal Shelters:

• Small animals: Central California Animal Disaster Team (CCADT) at 888-402-2238, ext. 700
• Large animals: Mariposa Fairgrounds, 5007 Fairgrounds Road, Mariposa, CA 95338