YOSEMITE – The Unified Commanders of the Ferguson Fire – Cal Fire, U.S. Forest Service and Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office – will be hosting a community meeting to discuss the current situation at 11 a.m. today, July 24, at the Yosemite Valley Auditorium, 9035 Village Drive in Yosemite National Park. Officials will be giving an operational overview briefing, highlighting the ...

MARIPOSA COUNTY – A heavy inversion layer kept fire activity at a fairly moderate level for crews on the Ferguson Fire today, despite the high temperatures. The fire is now estimated at 36,102 acres with 16 percent containment. One nonresidential structure has been destroyed, say fire officials, and nearly 3,500 more are threatened. No new evacuations were ordered today. There ...

MARIPOSA COUNTY – As they move into day number 10 on the Ferguson Fire, crews are making progress on containment, now estimated at 13 percent. The fire has charred 33,743 acres and destroyed one nonresidential structure, say fire officials. The number of structures still threatened is reported at 3,494. There are currently 3,066 personnel assigned to the incident including 199 ...

MARIPOSA COUNTY – As temperatures continue to hover near the century mark, firefighters are powering through their ninth day on the lines of the Ferguson Fire. The fire is burning on both the Sierra and Stanislaus National Forests and grew to 32,484 acres today with 6 percent containment. The number of structures threatened by the fire is now reported at ...

Hard working, protector, giving, loving, sensitive, kind and quiet are a few words that describe Braden Varney. Son, brother, husband, father and friend explain the lives he’s touched. Braden was born to Gordie and Lynn Varney on May 12, 1982. At the young age of four, Braden operated his first snow plow that Gordie made him out of a riding ...

MARIPOSA COUNTY – The Ferguson Fire was active on most every front Saturday as it grew to 30,493 acres. It is just 6 percent contained. The number of personnel assigned to the incident has increased to 2,903, including 204 engines, 72 crews, 42 dozers, 38 water tenders, 17 helicopters, and fixed-wing aircraft as conditions allow. Most of the new line ...

MARIPOSA COUNTY – The Ferguson Fire grew more than 1,900 acres today after the inversion lifted, with most of the activity on the north flank of the fire. It is now estimated at at 29,045 acres with 6 percent containment. Most of the increased acreage was north of Highway 140 near Ned’s Gulch where the fire spotted over yesterday. Both ...

MODESTO – Members of the Fire Service family will be celebrating the life of a fallen brother, Heavy Fire Equipment Operator Braden Varney, on Monday, July 23, in Modesto, Calif. There will also be a public visitation on Sunday, July 22. Braden Varney, just 36 years old, was killed on July 14 when his dozer rolled over in a steep ...

MARIPOSA COUNTY – The Ferguson Fire continues to challenge firefighters as it pushes north across the Merced River along Highway 140 west of Yosemite National Park. The Ferguson Fire grew more than 2,500 acres throughout the day and into the night hours Friday as the inversion layer lifted and fire activity increased in many areas of the fire’s footprint. It ...

MARIPOSA COUNTY – More than 2,700 people are involved in the firefight south of Highway 140 in Mariposa County, battling sweltering heat along with a fire that keeps pushing through incredibly steep and dangerous terrain. The Ferguson Fire, now in its seventh day, is estimated at 24,450 acres and 7 percent containment. The fire spotted north across the Merced River ...