MARIPOSA–This morning residents of Mariposa County are waking up, if they slept at all, to a smoky and changed landscape. Once again, wildfire has come to Mariposa County. Yesterday, Thursday, July 4th, a fire column several people around the town of Mariposa began reporting seeing a smoke column. It was also very visible on the AlertCalifornia wildfire cameras.
Firefighters were immediately dispatched, both ground and air, and began the hunt for where the fire was located. It was then located in the Midpines area, just outside of town, on Grosjean Road which connects with Highway 140. This became known as the French Fire. By the end of the night, the fire had burned over 800 acres all around the town of Mariposa.
The fire is currently 908 acres and 60% contained.
We will continue to update this article throughout the day. Yesterday’s events are in our article here.
Scroll for previous updates.
Update Monday 7.8.2024
The fire had minimal fire activity overnight. Firefighters continue to mop up, patrol and reinforce fire-line to prevent any hot embers or smoldering vegetation from extending past the established control line. The weather is hot and very dry with little to no relative humidity recovery. Suppression repair efforts have begun and damage assessment is 75% complete.
Fire equipment remain in the area. Please use caution when driving.
The fire information line has been down staffed.
Updates for Saturday July 7th
The fire remains 208 acres and is now 25% contained. Most of the mandatory evacuations have been downgraded or released. The Red Cross Shelter at New Life Christian Fellowship closed at 12:00 noon today. A video of the fires burn scar, as viewed from a helicopter, is available here.
The Stockton Creek Reservoir and trails are under mandatory evacuations as is the road to the Mariposa Count High School baseball field and track.
The following areas are still under Evacuation Warnings:
Old Hwy North from 140 to 10th street
Hospital Road past John C Fremont hospital
Grosjean Rd
Alta Vista Rd
Avoca Vale
Stockton Creek Area
Slaughterhouse from Hwy 140 to Allred
Allred Road from Slaughterhouse to Hwy 49 South
ROAD INFORMATION- Open to residents only
Grosjean
Alta Vista
Avoca Vale
Hospital Road past John C. Fremont
Old Hwy North from Hwy 140 to 10th Street
Updates for Friday July 6th
Update 6:05 pm
The fire is now 908 acres and 20% contained.
Highway 140 is now open to Yosemite with no restrictions.
Update 12:45 pm
Many evacuation Statuses have changed and more areas are open in the town of Mariposa.
Mandatory Evacuations
Grosjean Rd
Alta Vista Rd
Avoca Vale
Old Hwy North from 140 to 10th street
Slaughterhouse Rd
Hospital Road past John C. Fremont
Road to MCHS Baseball Field/Track
Evacuation Warnings
Stockton Creek Area
-Slaughterhouse from Hwy 140 to Allred
-Allred Road from Slaughterhouse to Hwy 49 South
All the shelter in place orders have been lifted
Road Open
Highway 140 will be open with traffic controls from Old Hwy North to Grosjean Road. This will be open to all traffic through to Yosemite National Park.
Be aware that heavy fire and emergency traffic will remain in the area as fire suppression efforts continue. Please continue to avoid the area as much as possible. If you must be in the area, please drive with extreme caution.
A large pre-fire suppression plan is being conducted in the Allred Road area. There is an extremely large amount of fire and emergency equipment doing precautionary work, this includes a significantly large dozer operation. Please drive slowly while in the area and watch for Firefighters working in the area.
Update 10:50 am
AlertCalifornia Mt Bullion Camera 1 at approximately 10:50 am, July 5th. Click on the picture for the current view.
Update 8:50 am
Mandatory Evacuations
– Hospital Rd, from Silver Creek to the end (up the mountain)
– Grosjean Rd
– Alta Vista Rd
– Avoca Vale
– Old Hwy North from 140 to 10th street
– Slaughterhouse Rd
– Williams Road
– Hospital Road
– Smith Rd from Hwy 140 to Hospital Rd
– Campbell Road
– Pine Street
– Dexter View
– All of Jones Street
– Bullion Street- from 6th Street to the Church at the end of town
– Mariposa Street
– Trabucco Street
– St Andrews Rd (both apartment complexes)
Evacuation Warnings
– Parts of Hwy 140
– Lakeview Rd
– Stockton Creek Area
– Slaughterhouse from Hwy 140 to Allred
– Allred Road from Slaughterhouse to Hwy 49 South
JCF Hospital has been put in a shelter in place status.
The Quality Inn and Yosemite Inn in Mariposa have been put on a shelter in place status.
Road Closures
Grosjean
Alta Vista
Avoca Vale
Jones Street
Smith Rd from Hwy 140 to Hospital Rd
Hospital Road
Old Hwy North from Hwy 140 to 10th Street
Campbell Rd
Dexter View
Pine Drive
Williams Rd
Hwy 140 from Hwy 49 North to East Whitlock
Hwy 49 South from Old Hwy to Hwy 140, Northbound Lanes only- Traffic being re-directed to Miller Road
Mariposa Parks and Recreation
ALL Mariposa Pool and Park programs will be canceled Friday, July 5th for the health and safety of all participants. El Portal and Coulterville pools will continue to be open at this time. This is subject to change due to potential road closures and staff evacuation orders. We will continue to update on any pool closures throughout the weekend.
Fire perimeter as of Friday morning, July 5th, courtesy of the Watch Duty App.
