Top 10 Questions for Lasting Adventures about the Ferguson Fire
7/25/2018
For updated information please see: HERE
How big is the Ferguson Fire?
The Ferguson Fire is currently nearing 40,000 acres.
Where is the Ferguson Fire currently located?
The Ferguson Fire is located to the north and south of Highway 140 between Mariposa and Yosemite Valley. You can find the fire map HERE.
How much of the fire is contained?
It is currently 25% contained and we are expecting containment to jump in the next few days as the firefighters connect main lines and do back-burns. Also they are using lines and previously scarred areas from past fires (like the Rim fire) as planned containment areas.
Current Road closures to Yosemite:
Highway 140 between Mariposa and Yosemite Valley remains closed. Also due to fire operations along Highway 41 within the park, Yosemite Valley, Highway 41, and the South Entrance into Yosemite will be closed. The fire is not active in these locations, but fire crews are operating in these locations. They anticipate re-opening these areas on Sunday July 29th or after the completion of work.
Why is Yosemite “closing”?
Yosemite National Park is not closing. The famous and iconic Yosemite Valley area is being closed temporarily as well as Hwy 41 into the Valley through at-least Sunday. They are closing the Valley and Hwy 41 for fire operations, not the encroachment of fire. They are also anticipating large amounts of smoke in the valley during this period.
Why are you still running programs in Yosemite?
Yosemite National Park is almost 1200 square miles. All of our programs have currently been relocated to the Tuolumne Meadows region northeast and well away from the Ferguson Fire and Yosemite Valley’s temporary closure.
Can the fire spread to the Tuolumne Meadows region where you are running programs?
Technically anything is possible, but in order for the fire to even come close to our groups in the field, it would have to cross many mountain ranges, drainages, and granite; and essentially become the largest fire in California’s history while doing so. Even the Rim Fire in 2013 (3rd largest in Californian history) expanded at less than 1 mile per day–easy to outpace if you need to get away from it. This is also why these areas remain open- so that the general population can still enjoy the National Park in areas deemed safe and less of a threat by safety personnel. Should the fire grow to be a concern for our programs in the field, the National Park (and Search and Rescue) would contact us and our groups in the field well before and ahead of the fire.
What about the smoke? Air-quality?
Smoke levels can vary based on weather and wind. Currently the Yosemite Valley and areas around the Valley are experiencing smoke in the “Unhealthy” levels. In the Tuolumne Meadows region, where our trips will be taking place, the smoke levels are currently varying from “Good to Moderate;” and sometimes: “Unhealthy for sensitive groups”. See: AirNow.gov & Yosemite Air Quality . Our summer camp guides all carry cell phones and satellite phones. They have been trained and reminded before these trips to contact us if they ever feel the safety of the group is compromised. This includes the occurrence of hazardous smoke levels. We are always available for them. We also know where they are every day.
What’s the current road openings to get to Tuolumne Meadows?
Highway 120-West from Groveland into the park at the Big Oak Flat entrance station is open as well as Hwy 120-East at Tioga Pass. If coming from the Bay Area use Hwy 120-west. If coming from Southern California we suggest Hwy 395 to Hwy 120 at Lee Vining in the Eastern Sierras.
What is your cancelation policy?
Per our Terms and Conditions, we are happy to cancel and provide a credit towards any future trip this summer or through at-least 2020 as needed.
For more information on the Ferguson Fire see:
– https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5927/
– http://www.goldrushcam.com/sierrasuntimes/