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Ferguson Fire
The Ferguson Fire was a major wildfire in the Sierra National Forest, Stanislaus National Forest and Yosemite National Park in California in the United States. The fire was reported on July 13, 2018, burning 96,901 acres (39,214 ha), before it was 100% contained on August 19, 2018. Interior areas of the fire continued to smolder and burn until September 19, 2018, when InciWeb declared the fire to be inactive. The Ferguson Fire was caused by the superheated fragments of a faulty vehicle catalytic converter igniting vegetation. The fire, which burned mostly in inaccessible wildland areas of the national forest, impacted recreational activities in the area, including in Yosemite National Park, where Yosemite Valley and Wawona were closed. The Ferguson Fire caused at least $171.2 million (2018 USD) in damages, with a suppression cost of $118.5 million and economic losses measuring $52.7 million. Two firefighters were killed and nineteen others were injured in the fire.
The Ferguson Fire was first reported on July 13, 2018, around 8:30 p.m. PDT in the Savage Trading Post area, in the Sierra National Forest in California. Investigators determined that the fire started when the superheated fragments of a vehicle's catalytic converter lit vegetation on fire. Burning in an inaccessible area that was extremely steep and hazardous, the fire grew to 4,000 acres (1,619 ha) by the morning of July 15. Crews focused on securing a fire line and protecting structures along Highway 140 and in Hite's Cove and Cedar Lodge. The first evacuations were put in place for communities of Jerseydale, Mariposa Pines and Yosemite West. By the evening, 108 structures were reported threatened, and the fire was two percent contained and had grown 300 acres (121 ha). Two more communities were put on evacuation, as well as additional road closures along Highway 140 and select roads in the forest.
By the morning of July 16, the fire had grown to 9,266 acres (3,750 ha), with most of the fire growth being in the Nutmeg and Devils Gulch areas. New containment lines were put in place near Sweetwater Ridge, which was also placed under mandatory evacuation. Electricity went out in eastern areas impacted by the fire, including portions of Yosemite National Park. A Red Cross shelter was opened at a church in Mariposa for evacuees. By the morning of July 17, the western entrance to Yosemite National Park was closed. Power was restored for a portion of fire impacted areas near the National Park.
Low-level smoke hampered visibility on July 18, grounding aircraft fighting the fire while the fire grew southeasterly. Crews continued to build handlines off the southeast portion of the Merced River to protect Yosemite West and crews completed firelines west of Indian Flat to west of Cedar Lodge. The next day, the fire moved towards Highway 140, Sweetwater Creek, Jerseydale, and Ferguson Ridge. Crews focused on improving indirect lines along Sweetwater Ridge and from Highway 140 southeast to Wawona Road. The fire continued to remain on the south side of the Merced River and mandatory evacuations were put in place for El Portal Trailer Court.
On July 20, the fire jumped the Merced River, creating two spot fires north of the river in the Stanislaus National Forest near Miller Gulch and Ned Gulch. The spot fires burned an estimated total of 600 acres (243 ha). New mandatory evacuations were put in place for Rancheria Government Housing, Old El Portal, Foresta and the Yosemite View Lodge. A new evacuation center was opened at Yosemite Valley Elementary School in Yosemite National Park.
The fire continued to burn in Ned's Gulch overnight and into July 21. Air and ground crews made concerted efforts only to make minimal impact on the fire's growth, which was estimated at 2,000 acres (809 ha) in this specific area. In the afternoon on July 21, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke visited the fire. Fire restrictions were put in place in the Sierra National Forest. The community of Yosemite West was put back under mandatory evacuation and Anderson Valley was added to the mandatory evacuation list.
By the evening of July 21, the inversion layer had lifted and the Ferguson Fire had grown over 1,900 acres (769 ha), mainly in the fire's northern region, north of Highway 140 near Ned's Gulch. The rugged terrain remained a challenge for fire crews both on foot and in the air, and little progress to contain the fire was made. Two more firefighters suffered back injuries and were hospitalized. Overnight, the fire continued to grow and containment progress was made in the Jerseydale area. Crews were called away from fighting a portion of the fire in the Stanislaus National Forest due to safety hazards. The fire continued to grow by the end of the day on July 22 and Old Yosemite Road was placed under mandatory evacuation and closed.
The next morning, the fire was 33,743 acres (13,655 ha) and was reported a thirteen percent contained with one structure being destroyed. Crews used hand and heavy equipment to build lines in Montgomery Gulch and areas of Eagle Peak and Buena Vista in the north, while the fire continued to burn in the Chowchilla Mountains in the south. Crews had success at protecting Jerseydale and mopping up began in that area. The fire was reported as being an estimated two miles from Yosemite National Park's boundary.
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Ferguson Fire
The Ferguson Fire was a major wildfire in the Sierra National Forest, Stanislaus National Forest and Yosemite National Park in California in the United States. The fire was reported on July 13, 2018, burning 96,901 acres (39,214 ha), before it was 100% contained on August 19, 2018. Interior areas of the fire continued to smolder and burn until September 19, 2018, when InciWeb declared the fire to be inactive. The Ferguson Fire was caused by the superheated fragments of a faulty vehicle catalytic converter igniting vegetation. The fire, which burned mostly in inaccessible wildland areas of the national forest, impacted recreational activities in the area, including in Yosemite National Park, where Yosemite Valley and Wawona were closed. The Ferguson Fire caused at least $171.2 million (2018 USD) in damages, with a suppression cost of $118.5 million and economic losses measuring $52.7 million. Two firefighters were killed and nineteen others were injured in the fire.
The Ferguson Fire was first reported on July 13, 2018, around 8:30 p.m. PDT in the Savage Trading Post area, in the Sierra National Forest in California. Investigators determined that the fire started when the superheated fragments of a vehicle's catalytic converter lit vegetation on fire. Burning in an inaccessible area that was extremely steep and hazardous, the fire grew to 4,000 acres (1,619 ha) by the morning of July 15. Crews focused on securing a fire line and protecting structures along Highway 140 and in Hite's Cove and Cedar Lodge. The first evacuations were put in place for communities of Jerseydale, Mariposa Pines and Yosemite West. By the evening, 108 structures were reported threatened, and the fire was two percent contained and had grown 300 acres (121 ha). Two more communities were put on evacuation, as well as additional road closures along Highway 140 and select roads in the forest.
By the morning of July 16, the fire had grown to 9,266 acres (3,750 ha), with most of the fire growth being in the Nutmeg and Devils Gulch areas. New containment lines were put in place near Sweetwater Ridge, which was also placed under mandatory evacuation. Electricity went out in eastern areas impacted by the fire, including portions of Yosemite National Park. A Red Cross shelter was opened at a church in Mariposa for evacuees. By the morning of July 17, the western entrance to Yosemite National Park was closed. Power was restored for a portion of fire impacted areas near the National Park.
Low-level smoke hampered visibility on July 18, grounding aircraft fighting the fire while the fire grew southeasterly. Crews continued to build handlines off the southeast portion of the Merced River to protect Yosemite West and crews completed firelines west of Indian Flat to west of Cedar Lodge. The next day, the fire moved towards Highway 140, Sweetwater Creek, Jerseydale, and Ferguson Ridge. Crews focused on improving indirect lines along Sweetwater Ridge and from Highway 140 southeast to Wawona Road. The fire continued to remain on the south side of the Merced River and mandatory evacuations were put in place for El Portal Trailer Court.
On July 20, the fire jumped the Merced River, creating two spot fires north of the river in the Stanislaus National Forest near Miller Gulch and Ned Gulch. The spot fires burned an estimated total of 600 acres (243 ha). New mandatory evacuations were put in place for Rancheria Government Housing, Old El Portal, Foresta and the Yosemite View Lodge. A new evacuation center was opened at Yosemite Valley Elementary School in Yosemite National Park.
The fire continued to burn in Ned's Gulch overnight and into July 21. Air and ground crews made concerted efforts only to make minimal impact on the fire's growth, which was estimated at 2,000 acres (809 ha) in this specific area. In the afternoon on July 21, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke visited the fire. Fire restrictions were put in place in the Sierra National Forest. The community of Yosemite West was put back under mandatory evacuation and Anderson Valley was added to the mandatory evacuation list.
By the evening of July 21, the inversion layer had lifted and the Ferguson Fire had grown over 1,900 acres (769 ha), mainly in the fire's northern region, north of Highway 140 near Ned's Gulch. The rugged terrain remained a challenge for fire crews both on foot and in the air, and little progress to contain the fire was made. Two more firefighters suffered back injuries and were hospitalized. Overnight, the fire continued to grow and containment progress was made in the Jerseydale area. Crews were called away from fighting a portion of the fire in the Stanislaus National Forest due to safety hazards. The fire continued to grow by the end of the day on July 22 and Old Yosemite Road was placed under mandatory evacuation and closed.
The next morning, the fire was 33,743 acres (13,655 ha) and was reported a thirteen percent contained with one structure being destroyed. Crews used hand and heavy equipment to build lines in Montgomery Gulch and areas of Eagle Peak and Buena Vista in the north, while the fire continued to burn in the Chowchilla Mountains in the south. Crews had success at protecting Jerseydale and mopping up began in that area. The fire was reported as being an estimated two miles from Yosemite National Park's boundary.