High Sierra Topix

Fire Information Line: (209) 536-5388 donnellfirestf1918@gmail.com

LOCATION: Stanislaus National Forest DATE STARTED: August 1, 2018

ACRES: 13,814 PERCENT CONTAINED: 5%

TOTAL PERSONNEL: 517 7 Hand Crews, 4 Helicopters, 34 Engines. 4 Dozers, 4 Water Tenders

STRUCTURES THREATENED: 1,120 STRUCTURES DESTROYED: 26

INJURIES/ACCIDENTS: 0

CURRENT SITUATION: Fire spread was minimal overnight, the inversion layer remained in place. Structure protection continues to be the priority along Highway 108 and the Eagle Meadow Road (5N01). Crews have made significant progress in these areas. Firefighters and bulldozers worked through the night improving and expanding containment lines on the south end of the fire, north of 5N01.

Sunny and warm conditions are predicted again for today as the inversion is expected to lift across the fire sometime between 0900 and 1000. High temperatures will top out in the 80s with relative humidity dropping into menthe teens. Winds will be mainly terrain driven in the morning becoming southwest (5 to 8 mph) in the afternoon. This should allow for more aircraft support to the fire today.

Highway 108 is still closed at Eagle Meadow Road from the west and at the top of Sonora Pass on the east side. The Pacific Crest Trail has also been closed between Highway 108 and Highway 4 for public safety.

The incident is in Unified Command with Central Coast Interagency Incident Management Team, Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office, and Tuolumne County Fire Department.

The fire started at the inlet of Donnell Reservoir and continues to burn along the Middle Fork of the Stanislaus River in steep and inaccessible terrain. It has spread to both sides of Highway 108 near Brightman. The fire is burning north into the Carson Iceberg Wilderness between the Arnot Creek and Disaster Creek drainages and east to Eureka Valley along Highway 108. Due to the other large fires in the region and state, firefighters and equipment are spread thin, but they continue to report to the incident in increasing numbers.

Mandatory Evacuations: This is still in effect along Highway 108 from Eagle Meadow Road to Kennedy Meadows (all residences and campgrounds) as well as all along Eagle Meadow Road (5N01) and the Clark Fork Road area.

For more information about the Stanislaus National Forest, visit us at http://www.fs.usda.gov/stanislaus, “like” us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/StanislausNF, or “follow” us on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/StanislausNF.

For more information on the fire please go to https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6092/

Please visit https://airnow.gov/ for current air quality conditions

Wasn't smokey at all!

maverick wrote:

Wasn't smokey at all!

What's that on the horizon on pick #3? Gotcha, in your immediate vicinity.

You were fortunate, it's mostly all about the wind direction, there is some thunderstorm activity starting up Friday-Sun (hopefully no more lightning started wildfires) , then starting Mon thru Wed (for now), winds are going to be predominately south-southwesterly, unlike the changing wind directions at the beginning of this week, according to NWS, which could mean smokey conditions south of Yosemite, down to SEKI.

Thanks for all your help Maverick in the time leading up to my trip. You're a solid dude!

The smoke impact from the Ferguson Fire and fires throughout California are affecting air quality in the Sierra National Forest, surrounding communities and the Central Valley.

Sharing information regarding wildland fire smoke, air quality and ways to protect your health.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – Protect Yourself from Wildfire Smoke

https://www.cdc.gov/features/wildfires/index.html

Who is at greatest risk from wildfire smoke?
• People who have heart or lung diseases, like heart disease, chest pain, lung disease, or asthma, are at higher risk from wildfire smoke.
• Older adults are more likely to be affected by smoke. This may be due to their increased risk of heart and lung diseases.
• Children are more likely to be affected by health threats from smoke.
Take steps to decrease your risk from wildfire smoke.
• Check local air quality reports
• Consult local visibility guides
• Keep indoor air as clean as possible
• Avoid activities that increase indoor pollution
• Prevent wildfires from starting
• Follow the advice of your doctor or other healthcare provider
• Do not rely on dust masks for protection
• Protect yourself cleaning up after a fire

How to tell if smoke is affecting you
High concentrations of smoke can trigger a range of symptoms.
• Anyone may experience burning eyes, a runny nose, cough, phlegm, wheezing and difficulty breathing.
• If you have heart or lung disease, smoke may make your symptoms worse
• People with heart disease might experience chest pain, palpitations, shortness of breath, or fatigue.
• People with lung disease may not be able to breathe as deeply or as vigorously as usual, and may experience symptoms such as coughing, phlegm, chest discomfort, wheezing and shortness of breath.

EPA AirNow—California Air Quality plus lots of great information in the links titled Fires and Your Health and Fires:

Current Conditions (link located at bottom of web page). You can also go to specific areas by clicking on the links at the top of the page (Data and Forecasts Courtesy of) and the bottom of the page (State Air Quality Resources).

https://www.airnow.gov/index.cfm action=airnow.local_state&stateid=5

PurpleAir: Air Quality Monitoring – Interactive map (just zoom in on the location)

https://www.purpleair.com/map…

Cause: Under Investigation
Size: 95,104 acres Containment: 79%
Incident Type: Full Suppression
Vegetation Type: Brush and timber
Unified Command Agencies: U.S Forest Service, Mariposa County Sheriff, National Park Service

Resources Assigned: Engines: 135 Water Tenders: 18 Helicopters: 14 Crews: 22 Dozers: 23 Masticators: 5 Total Personnel: 1,889

Current Situation: Overnight, crews took advantage of higher relative humidity and initiated a burning operation in the Grouse Creek drainage. This operation is necessary to prevent the fire from becoming established in the drainage and spreading across Wawona Road and further into the Park. Firefighters burnout vegetation in front of the main fire to weaken the intensity of the flame front and manage the spread of the fire.

Today, crews are holding constructed fire lines and extinguishing hot spots near the fire perimeter. Firefighters will have a presence on all portions of the fire, however resources will be focused on; the tunnel area of Big Oak Flats Road, Grouse Creek Drainage; and containment lines leading away from Badger Pass.
Suppression repair efforts are ongoing in many portions of the fire. This includes using heavy equipment to build water bars, bring in berms and vegetation to conceal signs of suppression activity.

Weather: A high pressure system has settled to the north of the fire area, creating an inversion over the fire. This inversion is acting like a cap over the fire trapping in air and moderating fire behavior. Today firefighters can expect similar weather conditions as the past few day; humidity will be between 10 and 20 percent and winds light and variable.

Closures and Restrictions:
U.S Forest Service: A closure order is in effect Groveland Ranger District in the vicinity of the Ferguson Fire on the Stanislaus National Forest. The Sierra National Forest Closure due to the Ferguson Fire can be found at the Sierra National Forest website.

Yosemite National Park: Yosemite Valley, Wawona Road, the Mariposa and Merced groves of giant sequoias, Hetch Hetchy, among other areas, are closed. For more information, go to nps.gov/yose or call 209-372-0200.

Road Closures:
Foresta Road will open at 8 AM, August 9, 2018
Highway 140 east from the entrance of Yosemite National Park
Wawona Road open to Yosemite West to Yosemite Valley residents only.
Yosemite Valley
Mandatory Evacuations: Areas that are currently under a mandatory evacuation include:

Foresta (Residence and Employees only will be allowed to enter at 8 AM, August 9, 2018)
Yosemite Valley (Residence and Employees only were allowed to enter at 10 AM, August 8, 2018)

Area Opportunities: The unique Gateway Communities of Yosemite National Park are open for visitors. The Sierra and Stanislaus National Forests have an abundant of outdoor recreation opportunities. Yosemite’s Tioga Road is open through the Park, including Tuolumne Meadows Visitor Center, White Wolf Campground, Soda Spring, Tenaya Lake, and Lembert Dome.

maverick wrote: winds are going to be predominately south-southwesterly, unlike the changing wind directions at the beginning of this week, according to NWS, which could mean smokey conditions south of Yosemite, down to SEKI.