July 28, 2008
Telegraph Fire Update; 3,173 Firefighters On Scene
*The community of Mariposa is being impacted by the fire at this time. A pre-evacuation advisement was issued to the communities of Midpines and Briceburg. Active fire behavior is being observed in all directions primarily in the south and east flanks near the advisement areas. Hwy 140 to Yosemite National Park most likely to be closed.
*There are significant road closures in the area of the fire. The power to Yosemite Valley is out. The water supply system for the Mariposa Public Utility District is threatened. The northeast flank of the fire is posing an immediate threat to the Stanislaus National Forest within Federal Responsibility Area. Accessibility problems continue to damper suppression efforts due to terrain that is bisected by deep drainages, rock outcrops and the Merced River Canyon.
*The communities of Mariposa, Midpines and Mt. Bullion are being threatened. John C Freemont Hospital is threatened. The communities of Mariposa, Midpines, Greeley Hill, Coulterville, Bear Valley, and Mt. Bullion Conservation Camp are under an evacuation advisory. Various roads between Mariposa, Midpines and Greeley Hill are under a mandatory evacuation. Communication towers for television and radio as well as repeater sites are threatened.
Click Images To Enlarge
On a personal note I intended to get close enough to get some photos but stopped short and paid a visit to Hornitos. The smoke was too thick even from there and I saw no point in getting onto Hwy 49 contributing to clogging roads. My general impression is the fire could work up the Merced River drainage east and towards Highway 120 northeast.
There's a lot of equipment available to branch directors. With numerous helicopters on scene it's easier to chase spots before they get too well established. On that subject, according to scanner traffic there are numerous spots developing as the afternoon progresses.
Tanker 910 and other heavies are making drops on the Telegraph. 48 dozers and 89 engines, 41 crews and 30 water tenders round out the manpower on scene.
This is a tough incident to follow. The ICS-209 reports are offered at odd hours and there is nowhere I can find that has official maps of the fire perimeter. MODIS is proving to be slow. I consider the maps I post to be outdated. All the "old media" news outlets seem to be doing is setting up for a remote field report with flame in the background. Not one reporter, (National or Local) has asked a pertinent question!!
Area residents reading this blog should not interpret any information posted here as official.
Update as information becomes available. If anyone has images please send me a note through comment section, thanks!
Update: CalFire posted (finally) a Telegraph Incident Map (PDF) .
Labels: 2008 Fire Season, Telegraph Fire
A rather "dumb" question...
Where do you get the "flame" icons to go with the MODIS fire maps?
Not a dumb question. The flames come from FIRMS. Follow that link where you will see big fat links for the downloads!
Good luck.
To Anons above, thank you very much!
Does anyone know where I can find out about tonight's meeting info, especially about what places have burned? I have property and home on West Whitlock and could not make it to meeting...
GoldRushCam.com has great coverage.
What I meant by local is Modesto, Fresno, Merced TV and newspaper reporting has been minimal.
Mariposa and the firefighters deserve better.
Mike
: July 28, 2008 11:58 PMif you go to wetpaint.com and sign up. check on the message board re: the telegraph fire, there is a thread pertaining to info on damaged/burned homes. toward the end of that thread, the addresses of damaged property given at the meeting tonight are listed.
good luck
Thanks for the FIRMS link -- worked perfectly!
Your blog was a valuable asset for me in Carmel Valley during the Basin Complex Fire.
John
Updates on my site here, including lists of homes and properties burned, rumored burned, saved and rumored saved.
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