MARIPOSA COUNTY — The Detwiler Fire has now charred an estimated 15,500 acres in Mariposa County, and is just 5 percent contained.
The fire continued to grow yesterday as a result of wind and heat, ample fuel, and steep terrain.
The communities of Hunters Valley, Bear Valley and Hornitos continue to be threatened as the fire encroaches on culturally and historically sensitive areas.
Traffic along Highway 49, and as a result — Highway 41, will be impacted as a result of road closures on Highway 49 from Coulterville (Highway 132) south to Mt. Ophir.
The fire continues to threaten power lines to the south of the incident, which supply power to Yosemite National Park.
Some 300 structures are threatened. One has been destroyed, and one damaged.
There are currently 780 personnel assigned to the incident including 100 engines, 22 fire crews, 9 air tankers, 5 helicopters, 9 dozers and 4 water tenders.
Cal Fire Incident Management Team 4 assumed command of the incident at 10 a.m. yesterday from the Madera-Mariposa-Merced Unit (MMU).
There will be a community meeting tonight at 6 p.m. in the auditorium at Mariposa County High School, 5074 Old Highway N in Mariposa.
Evacuation orders are in place for:
- Hunters Valley Road
- Hunters Valley Access Road
- Bear Valley Road to Exchequer Road
- Highway 49 to Pendola Gardens Road
- Pendola Gardens Road to Old Toll Road
- Mt. Bullion Road from Highway 49N to CYA Road
- Old Toll Road between Corbett Creek Road and Highway 49N, including Corbert Creek Road
- Mt. Gains Road to No.9 Road, including No. 9 Road
Evacuation Advisories are in effect for the following areas:
- Mt. Gaines Road to #9 Road
- Pendola Gardens Road to Mt. Ophir off of Highway 49
- Merced River to CYA Road
- All of CYA Road
- Highway 49N from Old Toll Road to Agua Fria Road
- Area known as Mt. Bullion
- Mt. Bullion Cut Off Road
- Agua Fria Road From Highway 49N to Highway 140
Road closures:
- Highway 49 at Highway 132 (Coulterville Road) – Restricted access to locals with addresses in La Grange, Coulterville, or Greeley Hill only
- Highway 49 at Pendola Gardens Road
- Bear Valley Road at Exchequer Road
- Mt. Gains Road at No. 9 Road
Cooperating agencies include the Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office, CAL OES, Red Cross, PG&E, Mariposa County Public Works, Caltrans, Bureau of Land Management, Mariposa County Fairgrounds, Mariposa County Fire, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
The Red Cross Shelter and Small Animal Shelter is located at the Mariposa Elementary School at 5044 Jones Street in Mariposa.
Central CA Animal Disaster Team has been deployed to set up a small animal shelter at this location. For animal evacuation, residents need to call the Mariposa Sheriff’s Office at 209-966-3614.
The fire was reported just before 4 p.m. Sunday afternoon and grew to thousands of acres in just a matter of hours.
The cause is under investigation.
For complete maps of the fire area, click here.
Evacuations Expand As Detwiler Fire Grows, Resources Stretched Thin
