Slow-Burning Ferguson Fire Near Yosemite Park Could Accelerate

Firefighters battling the Ferguson Fire near Yosemite Park reported that the blaze, which grew slowly this weekend, could accelerate by Wednesday.

Over 14,000 personnel, 362 hand crews, 926 engines, and 126 helicopters fought fires across the Northwest over the weekend — including 2,900 ear Yosemite. With resources stretched and low humidity and another round of lightning storms forecast for Northern California’s Siskiyou , Shasta-Trinity, and Klamath National Forests on Sunday, the Northwest Inter-Agency Coordination Center declared a stage 4 fire alert, its second highest level of risk.

California had 18 named fires burning this weekend. But 2,900 Cal Fire personnel fighting the caught a break from overcast skies that kept temperatures below 80 degrees along California’s Pacific Crest Trail, slowing the Ferguson Fire’s growth to 33,743 acres and allowing fire fighters to double containment to 13 percent by Monday.

But that relatively mild weather for this time of year is expected to fade as temperatures spike by Wednesday to 85 degrees in the mountains along the Pacific Crest Trail, and to a sizzling 109 degrees in the Sacramento Valley.

Wildfire Today suggested that clear skies, high heat, and low humidity could be lethal when combined with the historically high Energy Release Component (ERC), which measures available of fuel energy (BTU) per square foot at the front of fires. Higher ERC means the heat intensity can make fires harder to control.

The U.S. Agricultural Department reported in September that estimated 2017 fiscal year wildfire costs exceeded $2 billion, making it the most expensive year on record. With a drained its budget, the U.S. Forest Service cut large air tankers leases by a third to 14, and reduced Type 1 helicopter water bombers from 34 to 28 for the 2018 fiscal year.

Wildfire Today commented that there are contract for “On Call” air tankers to supplement the current firefighting fleet. But On Call daily costs average 54 percent higher than those contracted for the full season, including an 18 percent higher hourly rate.

The Sierra Sun Times reported 1 firefighter fatality and 6 injuries from the Ferguson Fire. Despite the substantial size of the fire, there have been no civilian injuries, and only 1 structure has been destroyed.

Thirteen communities have been issued mandatory evacuations, and Old Yosemite Road remains closed. But with the fire moving north, and back fires having been lit to the northeast, Yosemite Park remains open at this time.

The City of Mariposa and Cathey’s Valley residents held an honor procession on July 16 to pay their respects to Cal Fire Heavy Fire Equipment Operator Braden Varney, who lost his life in the early hours of the Ferguson Fire when his bulldozer rolled down a mountainside. Varney leaves behind a wife and two small children.