July 29, 2008
Midday July 29 Telegraph Fire Challenges Fire Command
"We're going to be in for a fight"
This is a direct quote from one Branch Director communicating with another Branch Director minutes ago. This communication follows chatter indicating the slopover I blogged about earlier near Black Mountain was completely lost.
There is reason to believe this fire is still very much in it's early stages if you try to interpret bits and pieces of radio communication. (edited 1400 hrs July 29, possible misleading commentary, Mike)
I put together a few maps from Google Earth. The first map is a view of the Telegraph Fire looking from the north to south.
The map below indicates the fire is approaching the Fergusun (sp) landslide on Highway 140. There's no way to know how accurate MODIS is at this point.
The next map is looking east from Highway 49 towards Yosemite National Park.
This map is an overhead shot looking to the west from over Yosemite Valley.
The afternoon 209 reveals very little news, almost a rubber stamp from the last two. Acreage has not been upgraded. There have been 12 injuries to firefighters since the Telegraph Fire commenced July 25.
Note from afternoon 209-
"The communities of Mariposa, Coulterville, Midpines, Mt. Bullion, and Greeley Hill are threatened. The Merced River BLM Wilderness Study area is immediately threatened. Coulterville, Greely Hill, El Portal, and Yosemite National Park maybe threaten. The fire is moving toward the boundaries of the Sierra and Stanislaus National Forests. The fire will continue to cause partial or complete closure of Hwy 140 leading to the main entrance to Yosemite National Park. An evacuation center has been established at the Mariposa Elementary School. Kassabaum Spike Camp will be operational beginning tomorrow at noon. Preliminary damage inspection was conducted by Mariposa County; the incident will continue damage inspection over the next several days."
Labels: 2008 Fire Season, Telegraph Fire
Comments:
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The guy who is flying FAC is absolutely amazing. Do these guys ever get any recognition? How would one go about telling them what a great job they are doing?
# posted by 
: July 29, 2008 1:33 PM
: July 29, 2008 1:33 PM
"There is good reason to believe this fire is still very much in the early stages of development if you are able to put bits and pieces of radio communication together."
I'm under pre-evac in the outlying Greeley Hill area just west of Bower Cave. Yesterday was terrifying as the biggest smoke plumes yet towered just to the SE of our house, and I've been drawing solace from today's recent MODIS map on Geomac that shows much less activity in my area compared to yesterday afternoon.
Your statement concerns me greatly, and as I get ready to leave for work, I'm praying that the MODIS map can be believed as reasonably accurate and that your statement may reflect the "heat of battle" as it were -- perhaps some of the emotion of the day? I don't understand what you mean by "early stages of development" when the new MODIS map shows the fire being completely stopped at yesterday's line on the NW edge toward Coulterville. Clarification is very welcome.
Continued thanks for your fantastic updates!
I'm under pre-evac in the outlying Greeley Hill area just west of Bower Cave. Yesterday was terrifying as the biggest smoke plumes yet towered just to the SE of our house, and I've been drawing solace from today's recent MODIS map on Geomac that shows much less activity in my area compared to yesterday afternoon.
Your statement concerns me greatly, and as I get ready to leave for work, I'm praying that the MODIS map can be believed as reasonably accurate and that your statement may reflect the "heat of battle" as it were -- perhaps some of the emotion of the day? I don't understand what you mean by "early stages of development" when the new MODIS map shows the fire being completely stopped at yesterday's line on the NW edge toward Coulterville. Clarification is very welcome.
Continued thanks for your fantastic updates!
# posted by : July 29, 2008 1:44 PM
: July 29, 2008 1:44 PM
Willow, like I mentioned I'm putting together bits and pieces. Nothing I write is official as you know.
I did just hear a report on conditions on one division.
"rapid rate of spread, 120 ft flame fronts"
As for GeoMAC, I consider it now to be unreliable. It worked just fine on the Basin Fire.
I did just hear a report on conditions on one division.
"rapid rate of spread, 120 ft flame fronts"
As for GeoMAC, I consider it now to be unreliable. It worked just fine on the Basin Fire.
Anons, Thanks for the Fergusun spelling info. as for the pilots, don't know how to extend praise directly.
Willow--further on the progress of the fire.
One pilot just flying over for the first time today stated it looks like a whole new fire than when he left it yesterday.
Moments later another division pulled his people to safety zones as the fire blew over their dozer lines.
Second time I hear this today.
New spotting off Whitlock Gap Road was just reported....
Bits and pieces that are adding up.
Mike
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Willow--further on the progress of the fire.
One pilot just flying over for the first time today stated it looks like a whole new fire than when he left it yesterday.
Moments later another division pulled his people to safety zones as the fire blew over their dozer lines.
Second time I hear this today.
New spotting off Whitlock Gap Road was just reported....
Bits and pieces that are adding up.
Mike
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