Ferguson Fire in Mariposa County View Photos This is Day 4 coverage of the Ferguson Fire, more updates are here. Update at 8:54pm: The Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office has issued a mandatory evacuation order for Incline Road from Clearing House to the Foresta Bridge. Those leaving the area should keep an eye out for responding firefighters. In addition, an evacuation advisory has been issued for the National Park Service’s El Portal Complex, Rancheria Flat government housing, El Portal Trailer Court and Old El Portal. A revised size estimate was not put out this evening by the incident command team. The latest estimate this morning was 9,266 acres and two percent containment. Update at 6pm: A notice was sent out that a community meeting will get underway at 6pm Tuesday (7-18-18) to discuss the current Ferguson Fire situation. The post was sent by the Unified Commanders, CAL Fire, US Forest Service and Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office, who noted they would provide an operational overview briefing highlighting the current actions firefighters are taking as well as answer questions and provide current maps and other visuals. The meeting location is Wasuma Elementary School, located at 43109 Highway 49 in Ahwahnee. Update at 2:09pm: CAL Fire officials say that with the assistance of rescuers they have recovered the deceased firefighter who perished in the Ferguson Fire. California Urban Search and Rescue Task Force 5 successfully located CAL Fire Heavy Fire Equipment Operator (HFEO) Braden Varney from the accident site within the fire incident area. CAL Fire officials say the next phase will be to escort Varney to the Stanislaus County Coroner’s Office and that any members of the public who wish to pay respects to HFEO Varney while he is escorted are welcome to line the travel route. The procession will start at 3 p.m. at the intersection of Highway 49 South and Darrah Road. Varney was tragically killed Saturday and leaves behind a wife and two small children. Update at 12:45pm: Late in the noon hour CAL Fire updates the status of the Ferguson Fire, which, remains at two percent containment. CAL Fire officials report that currently one evacuation center is operating at New Life Christian Fellowship Church (5089 Cole Rd, Mariposa 95338). Among the assigned resources at this point are 34 engines, two water tenders, four helicopters, six hand crews and three dozers. Numerous firefighting tankers from across the state are flying suppression missions as conditions allow. Update 11:37am: The Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office has placed additional areas under an advisory evacuation notice. They include the Lushmeadows subdivision, Ponderosa Basin community, Triangle Road (from Jerseydale Road to Highway 49 South), Darrah Road (from Triangle Road to Sherrod Road) and the east side of Highway 49 South (From Darrah Road to Harris Cutoff Road) encompassing Boyer Road, Woodland area, Wass Road and Tip Top Road. The latest size estimate of the Ferguson Fire remains 9,266 acres and there is two-percent containment. Speaking out the challenges of the terrain, spokesperson Richard Hadley says, “There is very limited access, very steep drainages and difficult ridge lines.” He adds, “Coupled with that is the heat. There are really high temperatures, and most of the area has had very little recent fire activity. With tree mortality that’s been going on in the Sierras, there is a lot of fuel available. ” Update at 8:30am: Throughout the day firefighters will continue to fight the Ferguson Fire in locations where they have the highest probability of success and adequate time to construct a fire line ahead of its advance. Crews have been holding the 9,266 acre fire along Highway 140 in Mariposa County and out of nearby structures in the Devils Gulch and Nutmeg area. New containment lines are being built along Sweetwater Ridge on the southwest flank of the fire. Contingency lines are also being built along the eastern flank to slow the movement towards the community of Yosemite West. Structure protection engines are staged between Cedar Lodge and Hite’s Cove. More engines are being inserted near Jerseydale and Yosemite West. There are an estimated 108 structures currently threatened and around 332 firefighters on scene. Smoke is expected to continue to impact the surrounding region over the coming days, most notably during the evening and early morning hours. Click here to view the latest Ferguson Fire Map To view a map pinpointing the region where the fire started, click here. Original story posted at 7:38am: El Portal, CA — Overnight officials were able to conduct an overhead flight of the Ferguson Fire to gain a better size estimate. This morning it is 9,266 acres and two-percent contained. Additional firefighters are pouring into Mariposa County and more have been requested. In order to gain additional space for firefighters, later today the base camp will move from the Mariposa Fairgrounds to Ahwahnee Regional Park along Highway 49 in Madera County. It is not immediately clear how many firefighters are currently assigned to the Ferguson Fire, according to the public information officers at base camp, but the figures should be available later this morning. The US Forest is also currently in the process of transitioning into a unified command with CAL Fire as more structures are becoming threatened, notably near the communities of Jerseydale and Yosemite West. The federal Bureau of Land Management has temporarily closed the Briceburg Visitor Center due to the fire. Also, some campgrounds along the Merced River (McCabe Flat, Willow Placer and Railroad Flat) are closed. Mandatory evacuation orders are also in place for Savages Trading Post and Ferguson Ridge Road. An evacuation advisory is in effect for Cedar Lodge and Yosemite West. Highway 140 is closed from Cedar Lodge to the top of Briceburg Grade and Incline Road is closed from Briceburg Bridge to the last BLM campground. Highway 140 remains closed north of Mariposa due to firefighting activities and the investigation into the cause. To view a recap of the fire from yesterday, click here. To see a map pinpointing near the area where the fire started, click here<doc-sep>FIRE INFO Highway 41/Wawona Road is closed from the Yosemite Valley, through Wawona, to the park's south gate. Highway 140 is closed from 1.9 miles east of Midpines to the Cedar Lodge area. Big Oak Flat Road is closed from the Highway 120 junction at Crane Flat to the Yosemite Valley. El Portal Trailer Court Incline Rd from Clearing House to the last BLM campground Cedar Lodge/Indian Flat Campground Savage's Trading Post Rancheria Flat - Government Housing Old El Portal (including Yosemite View Lodge) Foresta Yosemite West Old Yosemite Road Ponderosa Basin Anderson Valley Lush Meadows Triangle Road from Darrah Road in the Lushmeadows area to Hwy 49 South and all side roads East Westfall Road to Chowchilla Mountain Road and all side roads Tip Top Road from Triangle Road to Gunther Road including Gunther Road Highway 49 South from Stumpfield Mountain Rd to the Mariposa Madera County Line (including Kimble Rd, Stumpfield Mountain Rd, Watt Rd) Ponderosa Basin Triangle Rd from Jerseydale Rd to Hwy 49 South (including all side roads) Darrah Rd from Triangle to Sherrod Rd East side of Hwy 49S from Darrah Rd to Harris Rd (including Boyer Rd, Woodland Area, Wass Rd, Tip Top Rd) New Life Christian Church (at capacity) - 5089 Cole Rd, Mariposa - 5089 Cole Rd, Mariposa Mariposa Elementary School - 5044 Jones St, Mariposa CA 95338 AHWAHNEE, Calif. (KFSN) -- A change of direction in the Ferguson Fire is putting Yosemite National Park and thousands of homes in danger. Residents living around the park are feeling uneasy as the fire continues to grow.As of Thursday night, it has burned more than 44,223 acres and containment stands at 27 percent.California Governor Jerry Brown issued an emergency proclamation Thursday afternoon for Mariposa County due to the Ferguson Fire.That proclamation will allow additional resources to pour in, including financial reimbursement to Mariposa County for firefighting efforts. Homeowners and businesses can also get financial assistance because of the State of Emergency.Authorities reported yet another firefighter was injured while battling the flames on Wednesday. So far, seven firefighters have been injured, and a Cal Fire bulldozer operator died when his tractor rolled over.The Ferguson Fire's latest target is a cluster of homes about 11 miles east of Mariposa. It's now threatening about 5,200 structures.The majority of firefighters and planes are hovering by Lush Meadows, which is now under evacuation from the north side of Triangle Road from Vista Lago to East Westfall and all side roads to the north.The high heat is presenting a challenge for firefighters, with crews having to take special precautions to stay healthy and safe while on the fire line.Jim Mackensen, with the U.S. Forest Service, said, "Obviously, like with anybody, when its hot like this you'll have to move a lot slower. You can't go at the same tempo as if you would if it was a cooler day. So it requires the folks to take more breaks, they have to carry more stuff-- it's not unusual for a crew member to work with a hand tool and go through two to three gallons of water a day. "Cal Fire and other agencies are hosting a community meeting Friday for anyone with questions about the fire. It will be held at the Tenaya Elementary School at 6:00 pm.These areas are currently under a mandatory evacuation:Thursday, July 26 at 6 pmTenaya Elementary School5007 Fairgrounds RoadMariposa CA 95338Small Animals:SPCA5599 California 49Mariposa CA 95338Large Animals:Mariposa County Fairgrounds5007 Fairgrounds RoadMariposa CA 95338<doc-sep>More than 1,850 emergency personnel are still working to contain the massive wildfire near California's Yosemite National Park that took a deadly turn after igniting over the weekend. The Ferguson Fire has exploded to 17,319 acres since it began on the evening of July 13 in Mariposa County. It is only 5 percent contained as of early Wednesday. Cal Fire, the United States Forest Service and the Mariposa County Sheriff's Office are collaborating in order to tackle the blaze. Cal Fire Heavy Fire Equipment Operator Braden Varney was killed on July 14 in the Sierra National Forest while working the wildfire, according to Cal Fire officials. Ferguson Fire - AP Photo The Ferguson Fire burns along a ridgeline in unincorporated Mariposa County, California, on Monday, July 16, 2018. (AP Photo/Noah Berger) Varney lost his life when his bulldozer rolled over, CNN reported. Officials recovered his body on July 16. Cal Fire reported on Wednesday that two firefighters were injured while battling the blaze. A mandatory evacuation order is in place for areas near the wildfire, and emergency authorities have urged residents to leave the area quickly and cautiously. At least 100 homes are under threat, but as of Tuesday evening, no structures have been damaged nor destroyed. The cause of the Ferguson Fire is currently under investigation. The vegetation fire continues to impact homes and businesses in the State Route 140 corridor as the fire spreads south and east toward Jerseydale, Mariposa Pines and Yosemite West, according to officials. "Very steep terrain makes it difficult to insert crews in certain areas of the fire," officials stated in a Tuesday morning update. Firefighters will have to contend with scorching daytime heat while battling the blaze. Hot weather will continue in the area for the foreseeable future, with daytime highs above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Ken Clark. Conditions will remain dry through Wednesday. Story continues "The addition of a little monsoon moisture from the southeast Thursday and Friday brings the chance of an afternoon thunderstorm," Clark said. "However, whatever occurs will be very scattered and more likely at a higher elevation than the fire." "Winds, except those generated by the fire itself, will not be a major factor," he added. The deadly blaze and a closed stretch of State Route 140 hasn't stopped some tourists from braving the smoke and hiking in Yosemite National Park, which remains open.<doc-sep>Hotshots fighting Ferguson Fire View Photos This is Day 10 of the Ferguson Fire, more updates are here. Update at 4:30 p.m.: The Mariposa Sheriff’s Office has issued a mandatory evacuation order for Old Yosemite Road, southwest of the Buck Meadows area in Mariposa County. A Red Cross shelter is set up at the New Life Christian Church located at 5089 Cole Road in Mariposa. Further details on the blaze can be viewed below. Original post at 8:30 a.m.: Mariposa County, CA – While the Ferguson Fire was active overnight, crews also made some in roads on combating the flames. The blaze burning in Mariposa County just west of Yosemite National Park gobbled up nearly 1,500 additional acres, climbing to 30,493 total acres scorched. The containment still sits a six-percent and the number of structures threatened remains at 216. Incident Command now reports fire crews were able to bolster lines overnight particularly in the Jerseydale area where new lines were completed. Much of the fires intensity was targeted on the Stanislaus National Forest, but the treacherous terrain and fires veracity made it very difficult and dangerous for ground crews to fight back the flames and they were forced to back off, according to fire officials. However, Incident Command reports crews have devised an alternative plan to use roads around the Soapstone Ridge/Neds Gulch area to entrench their holding line. Progress was also made in the area of El Portal and Yosemite West were crews continue to install hose lays to protect those communities on the northwest and west areas of the fire’s perimeter. Incident Command points to one area of success, calling the Sweetwater Creek area burnout operation “successful.” Although crews will be forced to deal with temperatures heating up and creating drier conditions, the dominate factor that is driving this fire, according to fire officials, is the thick fuels and rugged topography. As reported earlier, this afternoon CAL Fire is holding a visitation for Heavy Fire Equipment Operator Braden Varney in Modesto from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Franklin and Downs Funeral Home located at 1050 McHenry Avenue. It is open to the public. Details regarding Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke’s visit to the fire camp yesterday, evacuations, injuries to firefighters, the fires predicted spread into Yosemite National Park, concerns related to the Highway 120 Corridor Communities and Monday’s Celebration of Life for Varney, click here. To see the Ferguson Fire timeline, click here.<doc-sep>
This is Day 6 coverage of the Ferguson Fire, more updates are here. Update at 11:45am: Smoke is blanketing the Mother Lode today due to the Ferguson Fire burning in Mariposa County. The incident command team reports that winds have been blowing in multiple directions as a thunderstorm is expected to pass through the area of the fire later this afternoon. Back-burning operations, where they fight fire with fire, are also scheduled throughout today as conditions allow, which causes additional smoke. On a related note, the classic car show scheduled for this afternoon at the Junction Shopping Center in Sonora is cancelled due to the air quality. Also, today’s Tuolumne County rabies clinic scheduled for Groveland has been cancelled. Original story at 7:45am: El Portal, CA — There remains just five-percent containment on the 17,319 acre Ferguson Fire in Mariposa County. The incident command team reports this morning that there are 1,850 firefighters assigned, 158 engines, five water tenders, five helicopters, 44 hand crews and 16 dozers. There has been one firefighter death and two firefighter injuries. Mandatory evacuation orders remain in place for Incline Road from Foresta Bridge to the last BLM campground, Jerseydale/Mariposa Pines, Cedar Lodge/Indian Flat Campground, Savage’s Trading Post and Sweetwater Ridge. Areas under an evacuation advisory include Yosemite West, Lushmeadows, Ponderosa Basin, Triangle Road, Darrah Road, portions of Highway 49 South, the National Park Service’s El Portal Complex, Rancheria Flat housing, El Portal Trailer Court and Old El Portal. An evacuation center is open at the New Life Christian Fellowship at 5089 Cole Road in Mariposa. The incident command team reports that today crews will continue to monitor and mop up in the areas around Cedar Lodge, Indian Flat, and Cold Canyon. They will begin contingency line construction up Pinoche Ridge from the Merced River, improve dozer and hand lines around Yosemite West and Jerseydale, and take suppression action to keep the fire East of Snyder Ridge. They will also use aerial resources to try to keep the fire on top of Ferguson Ridge when conditions permit. The fire continues to put out heavy smoke across the region. An 18 mile stretch of Highway 140, near the fire, remains closed.