Fire up Bishop Creek

August 6th, 2008 Author: Steven

This is from the Sierra Wave web site:

At about 3:45 Tuesday afternoon, firefighters were called out to the Bishop Creek area to respond to a wildfire. With dark clouds and lightning strikes in the area, this fire was burning in sage brush and pinyon pines above the four Jeffrey Campground on Bishop Creek.

Winds pushed what fire fighters are calling the Big Trees fire across the steep hillside, igniting the pinyon pines, and sending a large often black smoke cloud into the sky. Fire Fighters from Cal Fire, the Forest Service BLM, Bishop Fire, and Wheeler Crest Fire, along with others responded. The initial report listed the fire at five to ten acres.

Shortly after the fire started, air resources were called in. At least two SEAT planes could be seen dropping retardant on the downhill side of the fire. A larger P2V tanker was working the area as well. While the planes were re-loading in Bishop, a helicopter was dropping water on hot spots, again on the downhill side toward the Four Jeffrey Campground.

Terrain, and perhaps the brief but heavy rain may be helping the fire fighters. As the fire spread around a ridge, there was a steep rocky stretch that appeared to slow the fire. One report heard on the scanner at 6:30 appeared to indicated that firefighters had halted the rate the fire was spreading.

There have also been reports of spot fires east of the main fire. Five handcrews and six engines have

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Telegraph Fire

August 4th, 2008 Author: Steven

Looks like the Telegraph Fire is now %95 contained. Here is the latest from Cal Fire.

No anticipated growth unless a significant event occurs. Interior islands continue to experience significant fire behavior with no direct threat to the primary containment lines. Concerns still remain in the northeastern portion of the fire. Fire suppression repair is ongoing. Significant demobilization of resources is in progress.

Highway 140 subject to brief traffic delays, north of Midpines and south of El Portal. For the latest highway conditions visit Caltrans.

The incident will have a North operations area (Incident Command Team # 6) and a South operations area (Incident Command Team #8).

Download the latest fact sheet

Click Here to view a map of the fire

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Telegraph Fire Photos

July 30th, 2008 Author: Steven

You can view some pictures of the Telegraph Fire near Yosemite at this link.

Telegraph Fire Photos

Here is the latest on the fire:

Telegraph (Merced-Mariposa Unit, Cal Fire): 32,063 acres at 20 percent contained. This fire is five miles north of Mariposa. Communites, communication facilities, power lines, and water supply systems are threatened. Evacuations and road closures are in effect.
Information: Call (209) 966-4784 or (209) 966-4785 or visit the web site. Evacuation Hotline: (209) 966-1133 (recorded)

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Telegraph Fire Update

July 29th, 2008 Author: Steven

Here is the latest on the Telegraph Fire burning near Yosemite. This info comes from the Cal Fire web site.

Location: Telegraph Road and Sherlock Road in the Midpines Area.

Acres Burned: 29,600 acres

Containment: 10% contained

Structures Threatened: 4,000 residences in the communities of Midpines, Briceburg, Mariposa, Greenley Hill, Coulterville, Bear Valley, and Mt. Bullion Camp

Structures Destroyed: 25 Residences and 27 Outbuildings

Evacuations: Mandatory Evacuations
Various roads between Mariposa, Midpines and Greeley Hill.
As of 5 p.m. the following roads are in the evacuation area: Texas Hill Rd., Dogtown Rd from Texas Hill Rd to Schilling Rd., Schilling Rd to Hwy 49N, Michaeloaks Rd. with road closure beginning at Hwy 49N

Evacuation Warnings
Parts of the communities of Mariposa, Midpines, Greeley Hill, Coulterville, and Briceburg.

Evacuation Center:
Mariposa Elementary School
5044 Jones St, Mariposa

Cause: Human (Target Shooting)

Resources Committed : 3,458 Personnel (1,766 CAL FIRE)
408 Fire Engines
71 Hand Crews
59 Dozers
30 Watertenders
13 Helicopters

Conditions:

The fire is burning in the Merced River Drainage, on both sides of the river. The fire is burning with a rapid rate of spread in multiple directions. Accessibility problems due to steep and rocky terrain.

Active fire behavior is being observed in all directions primarily on the south and east flanks.

The fire is causing partial and complete closures of Hwy 140 leading to the main entrance to Yosemite National Park. For the latest highway conditions visit Caltrans.

CAL FIRE Incident Command Team #8 is in command of the fire.

Click Here to view a map of the fire

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