Good Progress On Detwiler Fire Now 25 Percent Contained

MARIPOSA COUNTY — Firefighters made good progress on the Detwiler Fire today. It is now estimated at 75,000 acres with 25 percent containment.

61 homes have been lost and 13 damaged. One commercial structure has been lost, 63 “minor” buildings have been destroyed and 6 damaged.

There are currently 4,408 personnel assigned to the incident including 478 engines, 69 crews, 87 dozers, 61 water tenders; helicopters and air tankers as they are available.

Mariposa has been re-populated, but remains under an advisory. Residents should remain vigil and be prepared to leave if conditions change.

Evacuation Orders were lifted in the town of Mariposa due to decreased fire activity and successful firefighting operations.

Damage assessment crews have completed approximately 95 percent of their assessment of damaged and destroyed buildings.

An inversion layer is expected to develop tonight which will help lower temperatures and raise humidity which will assist firefighting operations.

Power lines supplying power to Yosemite National Park continue to be threatened.

These areas will still remain under advisory. Evacuation Advisory- Issued alert to media and public of potential evacuation orders. Contains general information of the incident and how to prepare.

All other evacuation orders remain in effect.

The following roads will remain closed

• Highway 49 North- Closed from Fremont Fort to Oakridge Rd (Coulterville)
• French Camp Rd- Closed at Hwy 49 North
• West Whitlock- Closed at Hwy 49 North
• Agua Fria Rd- Closed at Hwy 49 North
• Mt. Bullion Cuttoff- Closed from Hwy 140 to Rd72 A
• Princeton Way- Closed at Rd72 B
• CYA Camp Rd- Closed at Hwy 49 North
• Bear Valley Rd- Closed at Hwy 49 North to Mt. Gaines Rd
• Cotton Creek Rd- Closed at Bear Valley Rd
• All Roads off of Hwy 140 remain closed- Between Hwy 49S and Hornitos Rd

As of 7 p.m., Cal Fire announced that Highway 140 west from Mariposa will to through traffic only. All evacuation orders through the area remain in effect.

At 5:50 p.m. PG&E re-energized power lines on Highway 49 from Bear Valley to Pendola Gardens, and from Pendola Gardens to the landfill.

The Central California Animal Disaster Team (CCADT) remains deployed for evacuations due to the Detwiler Fire, with small animal shelters at the EV Free Church on School Road and Sierra Vista Presbyterian Church on Highway 41 in Oakhurst.

Donations are still needed, and general monetary donations are most important at this point. In-kind donations cannot be taken because the shelter needs to remain mobile.

There will still be smoke in the respective areas as firefighters continue firefighting operations. If at anytime you feel unsafe, please call 911.

For questions or concerns regarding power, please contact PG&E at 800-743-5000 or visit their website at www.pge.com

The Mariposa County Health Department has health and safety information for residents returning to their homes on our website at http://www.mariposacounty.org/health      or call 209-966-3689.       

SAFETY MESSAGE – The public is reminded to stay vigilant on current fire conditions. Please continue to adhere to road closures and any evacuation warnings.  If you see electrical wires on the ground, stay clear and contact PG&E immediately. Trees and poles with deep charring, particularly if still smoking, should be considered hazardous.

Please drive slowly and yield to emergency personnel in the area. As you re-enter your property and evaluate damage, be aware that hazardous conditions may exist, particularly if a residence or out-building has burned. Hazards may include asbestos, heavy metals, by-products of plastic combustion and various other chemicals.

We encourage the public to remain prepared year-round for wildfires by visiting the www.readyforwildfire.org website. The best show of support is having your home and property “fire-ready.”

The Detwiler started just after 4 p.m. on Sunday, July 16 in Hunters Valley.

The cause remains under investigation.

Cooperating Agencies: Mariposa County Fire, CAL OES, CHP, Mariposa County Public Works, CALTRANS, Bureau of Land Management, Mariposa County Fairgrounds, California Dept. of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office, American Red Cross, Mariposa OES, North Fork Tribal Chair, CDCR CYA Camp, City of San Francisco, TDS Telecom, Sequoia National Forest, AT&T, Verizon, Sierra Pacific Industries, PG&E, Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office, Wildland Defense Systems, Sierra Telephone, California State Parks, Salvation Army, United States Forest Service, Red Zone Disaster Intelligence, City of Merced, U.S. Senator Feinstein’s Office, California National Guard, John C. Fremont Healthcare District and Yosemite National Park.

These are the most recent fire maps. There will be new images after tonight’s fly-over of the fire area.