YOSEMITE – Firefighters on the El Portal Fire made good progress today, completing a line around 78 percent of the fire. So far the fire has consumed 4,518 acres on the western edge of Yosemite and on the Stanislaus National Forest.
Fire officials have also given an estimated containment date of Friday, Aug. 8 at midnight.
Power was restored to the community of Foresta today, and law enforcement personnel escorted residents to their homes this afternoon. The community will be open to the general public on Saturday, Aug. 2 at 10 a.m.
All major roads in the park remain open at this time, though visitors are urged to call 209-372-0200 before traveling in the fire area as conditions may change.
Crews completed firing operations on the northern perimeter, and are now doing aggressive mop-up work in those areas.
Fire spread is predominantly to the north and northwest, and continues moving toward Highway 120 and Crane Flat.
Excess Type 1 and Type 2 helicopters were released starting at 4 p.m. today, and some Type 1 Interagency Hotshot Crews will be released starting tomorrow morning.
Of the fire’s total current acreage, 3,542 acres are US Forest Service lands, and 985 acres are in Yosemite National Park. Crews have begun the process of repairing and restoring areas impacted by fire suppression activities.
Weather is forecast to become hotter and drier in the fire area through the weekend. Today was evidence of that as the relative humidity on the northern part of the fire was 10 percent lower than yesterday.
