MARIPOSA COUNTY – The Ferguson Fire continues to resist containment efforts as it moves farther into Yosemite National Park.
At about 6:30 a.m. today, the fire jumped to the north side of the Merced River about a mile east of El Portal. It quickly became established in Crane Creek and began a run up the mountain toward Foresta, which has been under an mandatory evacuation order since July 20.
Additional resources were sent into Foresta for structure protection and crews engaged in point protection – targeting individual structures – across the community.
Just after 3 p.m., the fire jumped Highway 41 north of Yosemite West and has a good head of steam as it moves up toward the Yosemite Ski and Snowboard area (Badger Pass) where the second fire camp is located.
A hard closure was put in place to keep anyone from going up or down the Glacier Point Road and Highway 41 is also closed at the Tunnel View.
At 3:25 p.m., it was reported that the fire continued to push across Highway 41, had now crossed the Glacier Point Road and was moving south.
Firefighters in the Fire Camp at Badger Pass are preparing for the fire’s approach. They may have to shelter in place as the likelihood of being able to get out on the Glacier Point Road doesn’t look good. The fire is making a hard push up the mountain.
Dense smoke has limited visibility and kept aircraft from engaging for most of the day.
All non-essential personnel were evacuated from Yosemite Valley by noon today.
We will update as conditions develop.
The Ferguson fire was 140 acres when the Forestry ‘team’ took control. They either do not know how or do not want to put out this fire. They stated in thier first town meeting that they PLANNED for it to burn from Hwy 140 to Hwy 41 in a”big box” It has exceeding thier expectations. The co2 the burn is releasing is alone enough to make this wrong.
There have been over 3,000 amazing, skilled, firefighters, dozer operators, and other support people risking thier lives on this fire. Forest, Park and BLM people need to let the firefighters keep the fires small.
It is unethical and reprehensible for them to do otherwise.
Have you had fire fighting experience or managing such? I bet not.