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Wildfire Closes Road To Yosemite National Park, Power Turned Off In Yosemite Valley

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By NPT Staff - July 14th, 2018
Ferguson Fire near Yosemite National Park, 7-14-18 Wildfire Today

The Ferguson Fire burning to the west of El Portal had led Saturday to closure of Highway 140 to Yosemite National Park and to the shut off of power to Yosemite Valley/WildfireToday.com

A wildfire in the Sierra National Forest to the west of El Portal led to closure of Highway 140 to Yosemite National Park on Saturday, and prompted the shut off of electricity to the Yosemite Valley for the safety of firefighters.

The highway was closed from Midpines to El Portal, from just east of the Yosemite Bug Hostel to just west of Cedar Lodge in El Portal.

Visitors planning to travel from Mariposa or Merced to Yosemite National Park were encouraged to use alternative routes and enter the park via Highway 120 or Highway 41. Highway 140 will remain closed until further notice.   

Along with the road closure, powerlines in the canyon that provide electricity to the Yosemite Valley were turned off for the safety of firefighters. There was no anticipated time for power to be fully restored.

Firefighters and resources from Yosemite National Park were working to help fight the fire, which was reported Friday evening. Named the Ferguson Fire, the blaze had covered about 150 acres by Saturday morning and was being fought on the ground and from the air, according to the Wildfire Today blog.

Yosemite National Park remains open. All campgrounds and visitor services remain open and operational. For updated 24-hour road and weather conditions for Yosemite National Park, please call 209-372-0200, press 1 and press 1 again. For information on YARTS routes, please visit www.yarts.com.

Comments

Submitted by tomp2 on July 14, 2018 - 7:35pm.

Sad update Saturday: Heavy Fire Equipment Operator Braden Varney was killed in a dozer rollover fighting the Ferguson fire.

 http://wildfiretoday.com/2018/07/14/firefighter-fatality-on-the-ferguson...

https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5927/


Submitted by Anonymous on July 14, 2018 - 9:51pm.

This is news no firefighter ever wants to read.


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