Go Back  Fodor's Travel Talk Forums > Destinations > United States
Reload this Page >

Ferguson Fire near Yosemite National Park

Search

Ferguson Fire near Yosemite National Park

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 25th, 2018, 11:10 AM
  #21  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 25,471
Received 4 Likes on 3 Posts
The fire continues to grow and now covers 38,522 acres. It is still only 25% contained. Additional mandatory evacuations have been ordered for the Lushmeadows area. There are 3,434 firefighters working this very dangerous fire.

https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5927/
Barbara is offline  
Old Jul 25th, 2018, 11:11 AM
  #22  
Forum Moderator
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 6,558
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
We have merged the two threads
Moderator1 is offline  
Old Jul 25th, 2018, 11:26 AM
  #23  
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 26,242
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Interestingly, while the air quality in Lake Tahoe was really bad a couple of days last week, yesterday and today are totally clear - blue skies and sunny. I wonder if the wind shifted the direction of the smoke.
sf7307 is offline  
Old Jul 25th, 2018, 11:38 AM
  #24  
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 73,262
Likes: 0
Received 50 Likes on 7 Posts
Yes -- the main smoke is drifting south and west-ish affecting the San Joaquin Valley and more southern Sierra foothills
janisj is offline  
Old Jul 25th, 2018, 09:01 PM
  #25  
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 10,334
Received 2 Likes on 1 Post
A week ago, Tahoe and Carson Valley were very Smokey with poor visibility. Today, we took a ride to Winnemucca for lunch. Very little smoke and great views.
MichelleY is offline  
Old Jul 26th, 2018, 09:14 AM
  #26  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 25,471
Received 4 Likes on 3 Posts
MichelleY, nice of the wind to be considerate of you!

In other news, the fire has grown to 43,299 acres and is 27% contained.

I have no idea what they are planning to do in order to be able to re-open Yosemite on Sunday/Monday.

Yosemite has implemented Stage 1 fire restrictions which will continue until further notice.

pict20180625-195803-0.pdf

https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5927/
Barbara is offline  
Old Jul 27th, 2018, 08:54 AM
  #27  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 25,471
Received 4 Likes on 3 Posts
The fire has grown a bit more to 45,911 acres and is now 29% contained. The containment is all along the western border of the fire. It spread to the south. The wind changed and that changes the direction in which the fire moves.

https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5927/

There are 3,821 people fighting this fire. There are two new, rapidly growing, fires in California. The Carr fire, north of Sacramento, and the Cranston fire, at Idyllwild, east of Hemet, in the San Jacinto Mountains. Both of these fires are threatening hundreds of homes, so they may have to move some people from the Ferguson Fire.
Barbara is offline  
Old Jul 27th, 2018, 09:25 AM
  #28  
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 73,262
Likes: 0
Received 50 Likes on 7 Posts
The Carr fire is REALLY scary - it is heading toward Redding and jumped the Sacramento River.
janisj is offline  
Old Jul 27th, 2018, 10:00 AM
  #29  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 25,471
Received 4 Likes on 3 Posts
janisj, it is terrifying. Did you see the tv news people who had to evacuate while they were on air?
Barbara is offline  
Old Jul 27th, 2018, 10:08 AM
  #30  
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 73,262
Likes: 0
Received 50 Likes on 7 Posts
Originally Posted by Barbara
janisj, it is terrifying. Did you see the tv news people who had to evacuate while they were on air?
I didn't see the video but did read about it. One doesn't usually think of rural fires up there hitting suburban areas -- but it happened in Santa Rosa and certainly can happen in Redding. In 2014 the town of Weed was basically decimated.

Visitors out this way have no idea how bad fire season can be/is.
janisj is offline  
Old Jul 27th, 2018, 09:12 PM
  #31  
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 24,986
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
It's even more confusing when you start discussions about different fires on this thread. Hard as it may be to realize, many other countries (Australia comes to mind) and parts of the US also have devastating fire seasons.
mlgb is offline  
Old Jul 27th, 2018, 09:36 PM
  #32  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 25,471
Received 4 Likes on 3 Posts
Update about Yosemite opening:

The Valley will now be closed until Friday, August 3 at 4pm. Access to the Park will be via Big Oak Flat and Tioga Pass entrances. The South Entrance, Wawona and Mariposa Grove will still be closed indefinitely due to fire operations.

Last edited by Barbara; Jul 27th, 2018 at 09:39 PM.
Barbara is offline  
Old Jul 28th, 2018, 06:31 AM
  #33  
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 5,364
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks for the latest update. As much as I hate to do this, I'm going to cancel our road trip & camping reservations. I've had enough hot, smoky days in CO this summer that I know I don't want to camp in those conditions especially after a long drive. Plus since the Mariposa Grove is closed indefinitely that makes the decision a little easier. I hope I can take a trip to Yosemite this fall, but disappointed I won't be able to stay in such a beautiful location. I appreciate all the updates and praying for everyone's safety.
wtm003 is offline  
Old Jul 28th, 2018, 06:49 AM
  #34  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 25,471
Received 4 Likes on 3 Posts
wtm003, I'm so sorry about your trip, and for all the thousands of other people whose plans are ruined. In the Fall, it will be cooler and not so busy. Silver linings!
Barbara is offline  
Old Jul 29th, 2018, 07:49 AM
  #35  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 25,471
Received 4 Likes on 3 Posts
The fire is now covering 53,646 acres and 30% contained. Evacuation orders have been lifted from the Lushmeadows subdivision and Mariposa Pines.

https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5927/
Barbara is offline  
Old Jul 29th, 2018, 07:59 AM
  #36  
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 24,986
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
To add to the information on the Yosmite Area, there are 2-day smoke forecast updates available

https://www.wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlooks/YosemiteArea

https://www.wildlandfiresmoke.net/ou...SouthernSierra
mlgb is offline  
Old Jul 30th, 2018, 07:32 AM
  #37  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 25,471
Received 4 Likes on 3 Posts
Sad news from the Ferguson fire, yesterday another firefighter was killed.

Brian Hughes, captain of the Arrowhead Interagency Hotshots out of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, died yesterday in the line of duty on the Ferguson Fire. Hughes, 33, and his crew were operating in a complex area when he was struck by a tree. He was treated on scene, but passed away before he could be transported to a hospital.

The fire grew overnight and now covers 56,659 acres. It is still 30% contained.

https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5927/

Last night, starting at about 7 p.m., crews began burning inside Yosemite National Park, south along Wawona Road (Highway 41) from Henness Ridge, and will continue as conditions allow until the line is complete to Wawona Campground.

https://sierranewsonline.com/firing-...y-57000-acres/
Barbara is offline  
Old Jul 31st, 2018, 08:43 AM
  #38  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 25,471
Received 4 Likes on 3 Posts
The fire is now 57,041 acres with 33% containment and 3,638 personnel that are currently engaged on the fire which include 219 engines, 46 water tenders, 14 helicopters, 93 crews, 5 masticators and 72 dozers. There has been 2 fatalities and 8 injuries to date. 1 structure has been destroyed.


Area residents can expect to see increased smoke during the next few days as firing operations continue. Tactical firing is an effective way to reduce fuel loads while simultaneously widening or extending containment lines. It can reduce the duration and intensity of wildfires, particularly by decreasing available fuels and weakening the fire as it approaches containment lines.


Natural resource specialists have begun surveying the western side of the fire today to assess areas requiring repair and mitigation. Firefighters, in conjunction with resource advisors, play an important role in helping the landscape recover from containment lines and other suppression tactics.


https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5927/


Yosemite Valley is still scheduled to re-open on Friday at 4:00pm. The South entrance, Mariposa Grove, Highway 41, Glacier Point Road will continue to be closed until further notice for fire operations.
Barbara is offline  
Old Jul 31st, 2018, 03:23 PM
  #39  
J62
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 12,076
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Latest from NPS:
Yosemite Valley is closed at least through Sunday, August 5. Wawona, Mariposa Grove, and South Entrance are closed indefinitely. Tioga Road, Tuolumne Meadows, Big Oak Flat Entrance, and Tioga Pass Entrance are open. Hetch Hetchy is also closed.

https://www.nps.gov/yose/index.htm
J62 is online now  
Old Jul 31st, 2018, 03:31 PM
  #40  
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 10,334
Received 2 Likes on 1 Post
Smoke in the Lake Tahoe and Reno areas has been terrible the last few days.
MichelleY is offline  


Contact Us - Manage Preferences Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Your Privacy Choices -