Home » Yosemite » Dog Rock Fire Now 25% Contained

Dog Rock Fire Now 25% Contained

YOSEMITE – Firefighters made excellent progress on the lines today at the Dog Rock Fire, which is now estimated at 279 acres with 25% containment.

Due to their efforts, the evacuation of Foresta was lifted this afternoon. Control lines and hoselays along the north end of the fire are complete, and crews are working to mop-up that area of the fire to assure it remains contained.

The fire continues to burn downhill toward El Portal Rd and firefighters have established a hoselay from the road along the east edge of the fire to contain hotspots. Snags and rolling material continue to fall on El Portal Rd and firefighters quickly responded to these threats.

Ground crews received heavy support today from helicopters making water drops, especially in areas that are unsafe due to terrain and snags. Tonight, crews will work along El Portal Road to assure no burning material crosses the road.

The park is open and campgrounds, hotels, and other visitor services are open and operating at normal hours. Except for the closure of State Highway 140 at El Portal all other park roads are open. Access to Yosemite is available via Wawona (Hwy 41) and Big Oak Flat Road (Hwy 120) and via Tioga Pass (Hwy 120).

Map of Dog Rock Fire 10-9-14Visitors may see smoke in the immediate vicinity of the fire.

Yosemite fire investigators assisted by interagency cooperators have determined the cause of the Dog Rock Fire. Based on their investigation it is believed that the fire was started by sparks generated by hot metal fragments from a vehicle. This could be the result of several things such as trailer safety chains dragging on the pavement, vehicle brake parts generating a spark or other sources. (click map to enlarge)

Due to the extremely dry conditions in the park a single spark can start a wildland fire. Visitors can help reduce the likelihood of igniting a wildfire by assuring their vehicles are maintained and operated safely.

The National Transportation Safety Board is conducting the investigation on the air tanker crash that occurred on Tuesday.

Pacific Gas and Electric Company crew assessed the damage to the park’s power lines in order to prepare to return full power to the Yosemite Valley. The Incident Management Team and firefighters will provide assistance and support to these entities in order to assure their safety and facilitate their efforts.

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Sierra News Online

Sierra News Online