You won't be seeing Yosemite National Park's iconic El Capitan or Half Dome anytime soon. In light of the Ferguson wildfire that has already burned more than 90,000 acres since July 13, national park service officials have decided to scrap a reopening date for Yosemite Valley, closing some of the most popular parts of the park indefinitely. "Over the past 48 hours, fire has impacted all of the roads used to access Yosemite Valley, burning dead and downed trees that can become very explosive and fall without warning," the park service warned in a statement yesterday. So far, two firefighters have died and thousands of tourists have been evacuated. For now, Yosemite Valley, Wawona, and Mariposa Grove—all on the west side of the park—are closed until further notice, leaving just one entrance to the park, Tioga Pass on the east side, open for visitors. While the fire is affecting visibility and access to the most popular parts, Yosemite is a whopping 1,169 square miles, with plenty of beautiful areas and trails still accessible along Tioga Road up to the White Wolf Campground. Tenaya Lake, Yosemite's largest natural lake, remains open to kayakers and swimmers, and you can hike around Lembert Dome, a granite formation popular with climbers in Tuolumne Meadows. The Ferguson Fire isn't the only one California firefighters are battling. California's largest wildfire in history is still tearing through the state's northeastern Mendocino County, having burned more than 290,000 acres so far. Other smaller fires have popped up much closer to Yosemite, in nearby national forests. For a full update on wildfire notices, in and outside of national parks, check out the National Wildfire Coordinating Group's incident map. "Smoke impact from the fires will be felt not only from the Ferguson Fire but other fires that are burning in California as well," says Alex Olow, a Forest Service spokesperson, so read the San Joaquin Valley's air pollution updates for more. That being said, other national parks and forests in the area are operating as usual, meaning you don't have to cancel your outdoor adventure just yet. Sequoia and King's Canyon National Parks, both known for their impossibly tall sequoia trees, are open to hikers, mountain climbers, and scenic-overlook lovers. Note, both are seeing an increase in visitors, thanks to the Yosemite Valley closure. If you're looking for a break from the crowds, Olow says to head to Calaveras Big Trees State Park to the north of Yosemite for more sequoia groves. National forests and parks around Lake Tahoe—including El Dorado National Forest, Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, and Tahoe National Forest—are all relatively fire-free.<doc-sep>Update, August 5: The National Park Service announced Sunday that much of Yosemite National Park will close to visitors indefinitely as fire crews continue to struggle against the seemingly never-ending Ferguson Fire, which began over three weeks ago and still threatens the park as a whole. In a Sunday press release, spokesperson Scott Gediman said: Due to increased fire activity in the areas adjacent to and on Yosemite National Park, park administrators and fire managers have made the decision to extend the current park closures indefinitely. [...] The following areas remain closed: Yosemite Valley, El Portal Road, Wawona Road, Big Oak Flat Road, Glacier Point, the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, the Merced Grove of Giant Sequoias, Wawona Campground, Crane Flat Campground, Tamarack Campground, and several other sections of the Park. According to Cal Fire’s latest update about the blaze, the Ferguson Fire is now more than 38,000 acres in size and less than 40 percent contained. Two Cal Fire workers, one firefighter and one bulldozer operator, have died while working on the Carr Fire. So far 11 structures have been destroyed. Update, July 30: A fire crew captain died while working on the Ferguson Fire in Yosemite on Sunday. Cal Fire reports that a tree fell on Brian Hughes, who died before medical transportation could arrive. After nearly 17 days, the state now records the fire as being more than 54,400 acres. Although Cal Fire reports progress fighting the burn, it’s still only about 30 percent contained Sunday evening, little more than last week. Yosemite National Parks says Yosemite Valley, previously evacuated, will likely reopen on Friday. Park management says “limited services” will be available, but cautions that “the Mariposa Grove of giant sequoias and the Wawona Road (Highway 41) from the South Entrance of Yosemite National Park to Tunnel View will remain closed.” Update 26: As of Thursday morning, the Ferguson Fire burned 5,000 additional acres, which brings the total estimate to 43,299 acres. Yosemite park visitors were evacuated around some of the park’s most popular areas, like Yosemite Valley, Wawona, and the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias. These areas will be closed until Sunday. According to CalFire, the blaze stands at 27 perfect containment. Update, July 25: On Tuesday, Yosemite National Park announced that the Wawona campground and the Yosemite Valley area would close starting today in response to the ongoing Ferguson Fire. “These closures include all hotels, campgrounds, and visitor services in Yosemite Valley and Wawona,” according to Cal Fire, adding that “park visitors currently staying in park campgrounds and lodging facilities are asked to be out of these areas by Noon [Wednesday].” Closures are presently scheduled to last through Sunday, July 29, although with fire crews still struggling to bring the burn under control it’s possible they may be extended. Wawona, a “mid-level basin,” is home to the Pioneer Yosemite History Center. Yosemite Valley is one of the most famous and picturesque regions of the entire park. As of Tuesday evening the Ferguson Fire had grown to nearly 37,800 acres, and fire crews report it still only 26 percent contained. So far the fire has claimed one casualty, a firefighter who died July 14, just hours after the fire began. Update July 23: On Sunday evening, Cal Fire reported that it now estimates the Ferguson Fire at more than 32,000 acres, a surge of 10,000-plus since the end of last week. Containment, previously reported at just seven percent, is now down to six—technically a larger area, given the increased proportions of the fire; however, but representing essentially no progress in taming the blaze nearly a week and a half after its July 13 breakout. The state agency announced evacuation orders for some new Mariposa County sites over the weekend. Currently, mandatory evacuation orders are in effect for the following areas: El Portal Trailer Court Jerseydale/Maripose Pines Sweetwater Ride Savage’s Trading Post Cedar Lodge/Indian Flat Old El Portal Rancheria Flat Foresta Yosemite West Yosemite View Lodge Old Yosemite Road “Incline Road from Clearing House to the last BLM campground.” The presently established evacuation center is New Life Christian Fellowship Church at 5089 Cole Road in Mariposa. Yosemite National Park remains open and the fire doesn’t appear to have spread within its bounds, although the blaze remains a threat to the parkland. Update: On Friday morning, Cal Fire reported that after nearly a week the Ferguson Fire has grown to more than 22,000 acres and isn’t any closer to being tamed, reporting only seven-percent containment. On Thursday, Cal Fire responded by issuing evacuation orders for the El Portal Trailer Court/El Portal Mobile Home Park in the town of El Portal, near Incline and Yosemite West. The order advises: “Highway 140 West to Mariposa remains closed. Residents will need to use Highway 140 East through Yosemite to exit the area. Please drive with caution and watch for responding emergency traffic.” There are also evacuation advisories in place for the following communities as of Thursday: Yosemite West, Lushmeadows, Ponderosa basin, “Triangle road from Jerseydale Road to Highway 49 South, including all side roads,” “Darrah Road from Triangle to Sherrod,” “East side of Highway 49 South from Darrah to Harris,” including Wass Road, Tip Top Road, Boyer Road, and Woodland Area, the National Park Service El Portal Complex, Rancheria Flat, and Old El Portal. As always, evacuation orders are mandatory in California, and failing to heed them may result in a fine or jail time. More to the point, failure to evacuate may also result in injury or death, so anyone in any of the affected areas should leave. The orders also note that “a Red Cross Shelter is currently at the New Life Christian Church located at 5089 Cole Rd, Mariposa.” Update: On Wednesday evening, U.S. Forest Service Supervisor Dean Gould issued an order barring the public from large areas of the Sierra National Forest in an effort not to hinder firefighting efforts: The following acts are prohibited within the Sierra National Forest: 1. Going into or being upon National Forest System lands within the Ferguson Fire Closure Area. [See map. ...] 2.<doc-sep>As a growing wildfire continues to blanket Yosemite Valley with smoke, the valley itself and major sections of the national park will remain closed “indefinitely,” officials said. “It is just not safe for visitors and employees in the park,” said Yosemite National Park spokesman Scott Gediman.<doc-sep>The closures at Yosemite National Park, including Yosemite Valley, will continue indefinitely, as rampant wildfires scorch key areas near the park during what is typically the busiest camping season of the year, the park announced. An agent at National Park Reservations said late Monday that cancellations for park lodging would be automatic through Friday. Since the situation is so fluid, that may be extended soon. After that, the agent said, the seven-day cancellation policy may apply. For information, call (866) 875-8456. The service handles such renowned park properties as the Majestic Yosemite Hotel (formerly the Ahwahnee) and Half Dome Village. A park representative said that those with lodging reservations were being contacted. Advertisement Areas currently under a mandatory evacuation for residents and visitors include Yosemite Valley, Yosemite West and Foresta. All Yosemite Valley campgrounds are closed until further notice. Outside Yosemite Valley, Bridalveil Creek, Wawona, Crane Flat, Hodgdon Meadow, Tamarack Flat are all closed. Over the weekend, flames from the Ferguson fire, at more than 91,000 acres, almost double from last week, threatened access roads to Yosemite Valley, and road hazards and weather changes have made the fire extremely difficult to fight, the park service said. The fire is 38% contained, according to InciWeb. A large part of Yosemite National Park remains open: ► On the east side of the park, Tioga Road from Tioga Pass to White Wolf is open to visitors and vehicles. ►Most trails and campgrounds on that stretch, including the Tuolumne Meadows Campground, are open. ►Visitor services remain open along Tioga Road, including the High Sierra Camps and the Tuolumne Meadows Store. Advertisement But some of the park’s most popular locations remain closed: ►Yosemite Valley ►El Portal Road ►Wawona Road Advertisement ►Big Oak Flat Road ► Glacier Point ►Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias ►Merced Grove of Giant Sequoias Advertisement ►Wawona Campground ►Crane Flat Campground ► Tamarack Campground and several other sections of the park. For updates, visit the park website. Advertisement For updated 24-hour road and weather conditions for Yosemite National Park, call (209) 372-0200, press 1 and press 1 again. Also check out updated maps of the Ferguson fire. As alternatives, park officials were directing visitors to nearby communities of Sonora, Groveland, Mariposa, Oakhurst and Lee Vining, which offer camping and lodging. The Ferguson fire has raged west of Yosemite since July 13. At its closest point, the fire was two miles from the park. Advertisement Heavy smoke from the blaze has blanketed the valley and created air quality conditions worse than in Beijing, a spokesman said last week. travel@latimes.com Update 11:28 a.m.: This article was updated to report the size of the Ferguson fire and its containment. Update 1 p.m. Updated with info on cancellations. Advertisement UPDATES: 1 p.m. Aug. 7: This article is updated with news about reservation cancellations, mandatory evacuation areas, and closures outside Yosemite Valley. This article was originally published at 7:05 a.m. Aug. 6.<doc-sep>
California fires: Yosemite National Park has been closed indefinitely Park officials had hoped to reopen the park on Monday after a 12-day closure - but bosses have now warned sections of the area will be closed until further notice after raging infernos reached remote areas of Yosemite. The National Park said in a statement: “Fire managers are continuously assessing conditions in the area and will work directly with and will immediately advise park managers as conditions change and it becomes safe to reopen.” It comes after hundreds of park workers were ordered to evacuate on Friday because of inaccessible roads. Tioga Road from Tioga Pass to White Wolf are still open to all visitors and vehicles. CALIFORNIA FIRES MAP 2018 Ferguson Fire officials said power in Yosemite Valley was out, which meant park employees were not able to store food or filter air due to the outages. Within the park, the Ferguson Fire has been described as “dynamic”, according to CalFire’s Sunday afternoon report. The Cal Fire report read: “Over the past 48 hours, fire has impacted all of the roads used to access Yosemite Valley, burning dead and downed trees that can become very explosive and fall without warning.” Despite major closures, officials said “a large portion” of the nearly 750,000-acre park remains open to visitors. CALIFORNIA FIRES LIVE California fires: Pictures show wildfires devouring northern California Tue, July 31, 2018 At least 17 California fires have destroyed more than 275,000 acres across the state dating back to at least July 23 Play slideshow AFP/Getty Images 1 of 12 Burnt antique cars sit ruined in the Keswick neighborhood as the Carr fire continues to spread Fire managers are continuously assessing conditions in the area and will work directly with and will immediately advise park managers as conditions change and it becomes safe to reopen Yosemite National Park But the raging fires have left some of the park’s most spectacular landmarks, such as El Capitan and Half Dome, in a daze as smoke shrouds the park’s iconic cliffs. Several parts of the park remain closed including Yosemite Valley, El Portal Road, Wawona Road, Big Oak Flat Road, Glacier Point, the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, the Merced Grove of Giant Sequoias, Wawona Campground, Crane Flat Campground and Tamarack Campground. The Ferguson Fire erupted on July 13 along Highway 140 and has burned more than 80,755 acres. As of Sunday, the Ferguson fire was 41 percent contained. California fires: Fire crews are battling to bring the fires under control California fires: Yosemite National Park is currently closed