!! ALERT ALERT !! FIRE ABOVE THREATENS MANY CAMPERS & PLACES I LOVE

THE 500 ACRE FIRE IS NOW A THREAT!!!!!!!

THIS IS A CLOSURE OF THE ROAD NEAR CLARKS FORK, IT WILL AFFECT ALL CAMPERS ABOVE THERE.. MANY PEOPLE ARE UP THERE IN MANY CAMPGROUNDS ALONG THE ROAD + ONE LARGE PRIVATE ONE ALONG THE RIVER AND THE PACIFIC CREST TRAIL (JOHN MUIR TRAIL)!!!!

https://www.modbee.com/latest-news/article216094410.html

[size=45]Mandatory evacuation ordered for Tuolumne County residents near Donnell Fire[/size]





https://www.mymotherlode.com/news/local/380158/hotshot-teams-arrive-at-400-acre-donnell-fire.html
LOCAL NEWS LINK ABOVE ^^^

IF THERE IS ANOTHER FIRE IN MY AREA BELOW THIS ELEVATION AND TO THE WEST THE MAIN ROAD WILL BE CUT OFF

I AM SUSPECT OF THIS FIRE AND A COUPLE OTHERS.. BUT JUST MY OPINION
GLAD MY TRUCK IS BACK AND THE TRAILER ALREADY LOADED... IT WILL STAY THAT WAY UNTILL THIS RECENT FIRE IS UNDER CONTROL?? IF?? WHEN??

LET'S JUST SAY I AM UNEASY ABOUT THIS AS WE COULD EASILY BECOME INVOLVED IN A SERIOUS SITUATION AS THIS MAIN ROAD AND SMALLER SLOWER ONES COULD EASILY  BE JAMMED!!!!!!!!!! WOULD BE AN UNDERSTATEMENT!!!!!!






40 MINUTES WINDING ROAD (108) TO FIRE

KENNEDY MEADOWS WILL BE CUT OFF... IT IS A PACK STATION FROM 1800'S.
PACK MULE TRIPS AND GENERAL HORSE BACK RENTAL AND TRIPS.
BIG FISHING AND BIG CAMPING, SMALL GENERAL STORE AND RESTARAUNT WITH BEST HOME GROWN BEEF PRIME RIB FROM THEIR OWN COWS.

I WAS JUST THERE 4 WKS AGO! @ DEADMAN CAMP GROUND 
THE WIFE AND I SPEND AT LEAST 4 DAYS THERE EVERY YEAR SOME TIMES TWICE.

https://www.kennedymeadows.com

https://www.kennedymeadows.com

https://www.kennedymeadows.cohttps://www.kennedymeadows.com

MY MOST RECENT CAMP TRIP WAS ABOVE KENNEDY MEADOWS OVER LOOKING DONNELL RES. AND THE OTHER AREAS, WHILE 95 AT HOME IT WAS ONLY 75 AND BREEZY.

THIS CURRENT SMALLER FIRE COULD THREATEN KENNEDY MEADOWS AS WELL AS ALL CAMPING IN CLARKS FORK AS THEY ARE IN TWO NEAR CANYONS AND THE WIND TRAVELS UP THEM...
THIS ENTIRE AREA IS BEAUTIFUL AND DEAR.

PRAY THEY GET CONTROL OF THIS FIRE AND FERGUSON

https://youtu.be/zCWF6VIamOc

PLEASE WATCH THIS AREA IS AT RISK!
I'VE HIKED THIS TRAIL
BUT YOU CAN TAKE THEIR HORSES OR YOUR OWN!
THIS IS THE BEST MOVIE THAT I COULD FIND OF AREAS I KNOW... YOU WOULD LOVE THIS AREA!!!!!!!!!!!
https://youtu.be/Bx70rWSp1eU

Ferguson Status not good!

AN INCREASE OF ABOUT 20,000 ACRES AND STILL THE SAME CONTAINMENT... NOT GOOD

THIS PICTURE IS THE SAME AS GENERAL SIZE OF EARLIER BUT THE FIRE AREA IN RELATION TO THE OTHER IS LOWER ELEVATION AND MORE WEST THAN THE DONNELL FIRE. 


I CAN ONLY IMAGINE ALL THE CAMPERS UP THERE HITTING THE ROAD ABOUT NOW AND EVACUATING ON 108 .... IT IS USUALLY BUSY JUST ON A SUNDAY AFTER 12 WHEN OUT OF TOWN FOLKS COME DOWN!!!!
THIS WILL NOW INCLUDE THOSE WHO TOOK OVER THE SUNDAY CROWDS CAMP SPOTS FOR THIS WEEK

WHEN UP THERE BEFORE  ... ALL CAMP SITE AREAS WERE FULL EXCEPT HIGH ELEVATION OHV (OFF HIGHWAY VEHICLE) CAMP AREAS. DRY CAMPS NO WATER... YEAH WE TOOK 15 GALLONS FOR SHOWER AND 15 FOR DRINKING AND WASH DISHES. THAT'S WHY WE DON'T GET TOO MUCH OVERFLOW FROM OTHERS IN MY FAVORITE ATV AREA.

FERGUSON IS ROUGH COUNTRY AND SO IS THIS NEW DONNELL AREA, SO IT COULD DEVELOP QUICKLY INTO A SIMILAR LARGE AREA WITH LITTLE CONTAINMENT!!!!!!!!!!!

Two new fire planes headed up the hill, not from our area I know our planes and their flight paths to land at Columbia Air Port, wen we don't hear them at all it means they are using other small airports that are able to support with fire retardant near by like Groveland. 
The planes I speak of are older Navey S2 twin engine radials formerly sub hunters that have been converted to turbo props. Jet propelled shafts to propellers. 
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3a/S-2A_VS-29_CVS-33.jpg/300px-S-2A_VS-29_CVS-33.jpg

These are great planes... I know a couple of the local pilots

We locally lost one in 2014, these pilots take them almost verticle up slopes and dangerous canyons, they are good but things happen with wind currents.
Geoffrey “Craig” Hunt.
“We continue to mourn the tragic loss of Craig,” said Chief Ken Pimlott, CAL FIRE director. “We know wildland firefighting is an inherently dangerous job, but Craig made the ultimate sacrifice.”
Oct. 2014


we thank them for their efforts to save the forest and other out buildings and homes!!

Ohhh my Spring. This news makes me even  sadder.  Any ideas how it started there/?  Be careful and keep eyes wide open. Praying for all of ya'll also the beautiful places and animals.  It reminds me of a massive and brutal hurricane in our part of the country.

[size=40]Donnell Fire Grows to 1,750 Acres, 0% Contained, Hwy 108 Closed in Fire Area[/size]
By admin on August 5, 2018 1:06 am -No Comment

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Pinecrest, CA…Current Fire Situation: Fire burned moderately under the inversion this morning. The inversion lifted at 11 a.m., drastically increasing fire activity, with isolated torching. Several fire spots are becoming well established, making it difficult for crews to engage them. Fire spread from the fire is directly threating several small communities in a canyon with limited road access for evacuation. The fire has burned 1,750 acres, and 175 structures and 50 outbuildings are threatened.

As of 2 p.m. today the Tuolumne County Sheriff announced a mandatory evacuation from Clarks Fork to the Dardanelle Resort. An evacuation advisory has been announced from the Dardanelle Resort to Kennedy Meadows. The California Highway Patrol has been requested to assist the sheriff’s office with evacuations. So far 65 cabins and five large campgrounds in the Brightman Flat are under mandatory evacuation, while 88 cabins, two resorts and several large campgrounds are under advisory evacuations.
The Donnell Fire ignited at 5:49 p.m. Aug. 1, 2018 near Donnell Lake on Highway 108 east of Pinecrest. The fire has burned about 1,750 acres with active fire behavior and smoke outputs in two-foot high brush, timber litter and understory. The fire has crossed the Stanislaus River and is burning to the northeast.
The fire’s objectives includes firefighter and public safety; protection, maintenance and enhancement of natural and cultural resources. Firefighters are working to keep the fire north of the Middle Fork of the Stanislaus River, south of Spicer, west of Bald Peak and east of Dome Rock.
Cooperating Agencies: Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office, Tuolumne County Air Pollution Control District, Caltrans.
Fire Information: The Tuolumne County Sheriff announced mandatory evacuations for homes on Clarks Fork, the Wagner housing tract, Forest Service campgrounds, Camp Liahona (Mormon Girls Camp) and the area between Clarks Fork and the Dardanelle Resort. There is an evacuation advisory for Highway 108 between the Dardanelle Resort and Kennedy Meadows. Highway 108 is closed at Eagle Meadow (where I just came from). We advise the public to avoid this area. Steep and rugged terrain would make escape difficult.
Weather conditions: Very dry fuel conditions will persist throughout the area and temperatures in excess of 100 degrees are expected to continue for the next several days. There are red flag warnings for winds. High winds, low relative humidity and a temperature inversion are making use of aircraft resources difficult.
Donnell Fire Update Time/Date updated: 9 p.m. Aug. 4, 2018
Status
Acres Burned: 1,750
Cause: Under investigation
Date Started: Aug. 1, 2018 5:49 p.m.
Percent Contained: 0
Expected Containment: None at this time
Structures Threatened: 175 structures, 50 outbuildings
Number evacuated: 200
Resources
Hand Crews: 4
Smokejumpers: 0
Engines: 16
Helicopters: 3
Air Tankers: 0
Dozers: 2
Other: Water tenders: 2
Total Personnel: 207

https://www.mymotherlode.com/news/local/380492/vegetation-fire-ignites-near-parrotts-ferry-road.html


08/05/2018 8:20 am PST


BJ Hansen, MML News Director
Update at 8:20am: Air and ground resources continue to battle the Parrotts Fire in Calaveras County.
Additional resources have been ordered and are arriving on scene. CAL Fire is now estimating the size to be around 100 acres. It is burning near Camp Nine Road approximately four miles from the Parrotts Ferry Road (A BRIDGE RIVER CROSSING) intersection. It has been moving in a northerly direction toward Highway 4. There are some powerlines in the area that are threatened.
The earlier advisory evacuation notices remain in effect for the Live Oak Subdivision, all the way to Parrotts Ferry Road, Green Meadow, Coyote Creek An08/05/2018 sil Davis and Monge Ranch Road.
Those evacuated may go to the evacuation shelter that was set up yesterday at the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Sonora for those displaced by the Donnell Fire.
Original story posted at 6:50am: Calaveras County, CA — Responders are on the scene of an early morning 70 acre vegetation fire that has ignited in the area of Parrotts Ferry Road and Camp Nine Road in Calaveras County.
It is burning in heavy brush. A heavy amount of resources have been requested to the area, so be prepared for activity.
The Calaveras County Office of Emergency Services has issued an advisory evacuation notice for the Live Oak Subdivision, all the way to Parrotts Ferry Road, Green Meadow, Coyote Creek Ansil Davis and Monge Ranch Road.
We’ll pass along additional information as it becomes available.

Update: Assessing Donnell Fire Damage At Dardanelle And Brightman
08/06/2018 8:50 am PST
BJ Hansen, MML News Director
Update at 9:40am: Tuolumne County is declaring a local State of Emergency due to the wildfires. Click here to view the story. It includes new information about the damage at the Dardanelle Resort and structure protection efforts near Kennedy Meadows.
Update at 8:50am: The Forest Service reports that the Donnell Fire in the Stanislaus National Forest is now 12,000 acres and there is only one percent containment.
The fire has been primarily burning along the north bank of the Middle Fork of the Stanislaus River in steep and rough terrain through heavy amounts of dead and dying trees. Getting needed resources has been challenging, according to the Forest Service. Other local incident command teams have been sharing aircraft and personnel as needed. At one point over the weekend a DC-10 was assisting.
We reported earlier that the fire did heavy damage through the Dardanelle and Brightman areas, and several structures were destroyed. No additional information has been made available this morning. Highway 108 is closed at Eagle Meadow, approximately 13 miles east of Strawberry.
A timeline of our news about the Donnell Fire since it started on August 2nd is here.
Original story posted at 5:30am: Tuolumne County, CA — The Forest Service reports that the Donnell Fire jumped Highway 108 at Brightman Flat yesterday which forced crews to disengage from the fire’s intense edge.
As a result, it destroyed numerous cabins and structures in the area of Dardanelle Resort and Brightman Flat. The Forest Service reports, “An assessment of the amount of loss cannot be conducted safely or accurately until daylight hours…Fortunately the areas affected by the fire were evacuated early on August 5, resulting in no known injuries or fatalities.”
The fire is considered 6,000 acres and there is 2-percent containment. 273 firefighters are assigned to the incident, five hand crews, three helicopters and 11 engines. Due to other large fires in the state, resources are being ordered and filled as they are available, according to the Forest Service.
A larger Central Coast Interagency Incident Management Team assumed operations yesterday morning. A mandatory evacuation order remains in place for the Highway 108 corridor between Eagle Meadow Road and Kennedy Meadows, including all campgrounds and residences. Highway 108 is closed at Eagle Meadow.
A Donnell Fire public meeting has been scheduled for 5pm today at the Pinecrest Amphitheater and anyone can come and ask questions to fire managers.
To view a recap of the fire from yesterday, click here. 

Written by BJ Hansen.

If you see breaking news, traffic or weather contact us at the News Hotline at 532-6397. If you have a photo regarding this news story or any Mother Lode News Story please email news@clarkebroadcasting.com.

Fire information is located under the “Community” tab or keyword: fire
Local Burn Day information is here. If you see breaking news send us a photo at news@clarkebroadcasting.com.

When you leave your residence:
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[*]Do not tow any other vehicle. The Sheriff’s Office shall determine whether trailering large animals in or out of the affected area will be authorized. Trailers used for any purpose other than evacuation of large animals is prohibited. (MEANS I HAVE TO LEAVE EARLY IN AN EVENT) Driving a motorhome out of the affected area is permitted, as long as it is not towed.

[*]Follow the designated evacuation route out of the area.

[*]Follow the directions of emergency personnel.

[*]If you will not be able to contact family members to let them know where you are going, go to the designated relocation center until contact is made. After family members are united or notified, you may go to any other location during the evacuation. Or, you may remain at the site.

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