MARIPOSA COUNTY –  The Ferguson Fire grew by 5,727 acres overnight and is now estimated at 68,610 acres with 39 percent containment. Officials are reporting this morning that a spot fire on the north has resulted in the closure of Big Oak Flat Road (Highway 120) because of smoke and congestion from firefighting vehicles and equipment. The road is closed ...

MARIPOSA COUNTY – The Ferguson Fire is now estimated at 63,798 acres with 39 percent containment. The fire grew by 915 acres today. Just before 6 p.m., several spot fires outside the lines on the southeast corner, and falling embers, prompted the evacuation of the community of Wawona inside Yosemite National Park. Officials say the evacuation was precautionary. At 7 p.m., ...

MARIPOSA COUNTY – The Ferguson Fire is now estimated at 62,883 acres and is 39 percent contained. On the eastern perimeter inside Yosemite National Park, crews advanced tactical firing south along Wawona Road (Highway 41) toward Wawona Campground. On the south, firefighters conducting firing operations east from Crow Peak along the Chowchilla Mountain Road, toward Wawona Campground. On the north ...

MARIPOSA COUNTY — Firefighters held the growth of the Ferguson Fire to just 228 acres today. The fire is now estimated at 58,074 acres and is still 33 percent contained. Officials announced earlier today that the closure of some portions of Yosemite National Park will be extended to Aug. 5. Firefighters cannot always count on being able to conduct firing ...

SONORA – Stanislaus National Forest Supervisor Jason Kuiken has signed a forest order closing several Groveland Ranger District roads and trails impacted by the Ferguson Fire. This closure is based on the current and expected fire behavior and will be in effect until Sept. 30, or until replaced or rescinded. Crews and firefighters with heavy equipment and driving emergency vehicles ...

MARIPOSA COUNTY – Firefighters continue to focus on tactical firing operations across the Ferguson Fire, which is now estimated at 57,846 acres and is now 33 percent contained. Officials estimate there are 2,846 structures threatened by the fire, and one non-residential structure has been destroyed. Crews made good progress overnight as they continued to widen and strengthen containment lines on ...

MARIPOSA COUNTY – Firing operations continued today on the three sides of the Ferguson Fire, now estimated at 57,041 acres. The fire grew by just 382 acres today, and is still reported as 30 percent contained. There was good news today for residents along East Westfall Road, the Ponderosa Basin and for some who live along Highway 140 as mandatory ...

MARIPOSA – The next weekend of the free Summer Concert Series, Music on the Green – brought to you by The Mariposa Co. Arts Council and its many fine sponsors – at The Art Park in historic downtown Mariposa, features the jazz stylings of The Blue Skies Trio with special guest vocalist Amy Duke, on Friday, Aug. 3. On Saturday, ...

MARIPOSA COUNTY – The day started with tragedy on the Ferguson Fire when the Captain of the Arrowhead Hot Shots, Brian Hughes, 33, was struck by a tree and killed while engaged in a tactical firing operation on the east side of the fire. All resources in Division G, where the incident occurred, were pulled off the line, and that ...

MARIPOSA COUNTY — The firefighter who was killed today on the Ferguson Fire today has been identified as Brian Hughes, 33, Captain of the Arrowhead Interagency Hot Shots. The Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office confirmed this morning that, while battling the Ferguson Fire on the Sierra National Forest, Hughes was fatally injured. Hughes was originally from Hilo, Hawaii, and had been ...