Fire Start: July 26, 2014, 5:00 P.M.
Location: Old El Portal and Foresta
Cause: under investigation
Size: 4,689 acres
Percent Contained: 89%
Total Number of Personnel: 632
Costs to Date: $9 million
Expected containment date: August 9, 2014
Incident Commander: Carlton Joseph/California Interagency Incident Management Team 5 (CIIMT5)
Fire Summary: Last night crews made significant progress on the El Portal Fire. Crews continue to mop up and secure the perimeter to ensure that embers from the fire’s interior do not escape the containment line. They also continue to implement Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) tactics in impacted areas by installing waterbars, repairing dozer lines, and reseeding with native grasses to reduce the potential of further damage from erosion. Monsoonal weather that is predicted to move into the area will bring lower temperatures and higher humidity, which is expected to decrease fire activity.
Many nonessential personnel will be demobilized today to assist with other fire suppression efforts in the region. The remaining crews will work out of a new Incident Command Post established in Drew Meadow yesterday. This location is in close proximity to the fire and will allow for shorter drive times. The fire camp at Badger Pass will be disbanded by Tuesday.
Yesterday the Dark Hole Fire, burning northeast of El Portal, became more active and increased in size. It is currently 770 acres and 61 percent contained. This fire remains within the boundaries established by the National Park Service and continues to meet the desired resource objectives.
Please note that this will be the only update on the El Portal and Dark Hole Fires today.
Please contact the El Portal Call Center for additional information.
Information Phones: El Portal Fire Call Center is open from 9:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.
Please call (209) 372-0327, (209) 372-0328, and (209) 372-0329.
Smoke issues on the El Portal Fire:
Smoke sensitive individuals such as elders, children, pregnant women, and people with heart or lung disease are vulnerable to the adverse health effects of smoke. Please avoid prolonged or strenuous outdoor activity. You may consider leaving the area until smoke levels decline. Please consult your healthcare provider to discuss protective measures. For more information, visit one of the following websites:
For health effects of smoke: www.mariposacounty.org/index.aspx?NID=89
For Yosemite air quality: www.nps.gov/yose/naturescience/aqmonitoring.htm
For smoke updates: www.californiasmokeinfo.blogspot.com
