Sawyer Cuts Fallen Tree on August 7, 2018
Credit: USFS
Incident Start Date: 7/13/2018 Cause: Under Investigation Size: 95,104 acres Containment: 79%
Incident Type: Full Suppression Vegetation Type: Brush and timber
Unified Command Agencies: U.S Forest Service, Mariposa County Sheriff, National Park Service
Resources Assigned: Engines: 135 Water Tenders: 18 Helicopters: 14 Crews: 22 Dozers: 23 Masticators: 5 Total Personnel: 1,889
Current Situation: Overnight, crews took advantage of higher relative humidity and initiated a burning operation in the Grouse Creek drainage. This operation is necessary to prevent the fire from becoming established in the drainage and spreading across Wawona Road and further into the Park. Firefighters burnout vegetation in front of the main fire to weaken the intensity of the flame front and manage the spread of the fire.
Today, crews are holding constructed fire lines and extinguishing hot spots near the fire perimeter. Firefighters will have a presence on all portions of the fire, however resources will be focused on; the tunnel area of Big Oak Flats Road, Grouse Creek Drainage; and containment lines leading away from Badger Pass.
Suppression repair efforts are ongoing in many portions of the fire. This includes using heavy equipment to build water bars, bring in berms and vegetation to conceal signs of suppression activity.
Weather: A high pressure system has settled to the north of the fire area, creating an inversion over the fire. This inversion is acting like a cap over the fire trapping in air and moderating fire behavior. Today firefighters can expect similar weather conditions as the past few day; humidity will be between 10 and 20 percent and winds light and variable.
Closures and Restrictions:
U.S Forest Service: A closure order is in effect Groveland Ranger District in the vicinity of the Ferguson Fire on the Stanislaus National Forest. The Sierra National Forest Closure due to the Ferguson Fire can be found at the Sierra National Forest website.
Yosemite National Park: Yosemite Valley, Wawona Road, the Mariposa and Merced groves of giant sequoias, Hetch Hetchy, among other areas, are closed. For more information, go to nps.gov/yose or call 209-372-0200.
Road Closures:
Foresta Road will open at 8 AM, August 9, 2018
Highway 140 east from the entrance of Yosemite National Park
Wawona Road open to Yosemite West to Yosemite Valley residents only.
Yosemite Valley
Mandatory Evacuations: Areas that are currently under a mandatory evacuation include:
Foresta (Residence and Employees only will be allowed to enter at 8 AM, August 9, 2018)
Yosemite Valley (Residence and Employees only were allowed to enter at 10 AM, August 8, 2018)
Area Opportunities: The unique Gateway Communities of Yosemite National Park are open for visitors. The Sierra and Stanislaus National Forests have an abundant of outdoor recreation opportunities. Yosemite’s Tioga Road is open through the Park, including Tuolumne Meadows Visitor Center, White Wolf Campground, Soda Spring, Tenaya Lake, and Lembert Dome.
