Wawona and Wawona Campground evacuated due to the Washburn Fire
Blaze burning near Mariposa Grove burns nearly 1,400 acres as of late Saturday afternoon
YOSEMITE >> Yosemite National Park’s Wawona and Wawona Campground areas remained under mandatory evacuation Saturday as the Washburn Fire roughly doubled in size since Friday to some 1,400 acres.
The park told people to leave the area immediately. Highway 41 was open in the northbound direction toward Yosemite Valley and closed in the southbound direction at the Wawona Golf Course. The Red Cross opened an evacuation shelter at New Life Christian Fellowship at 5089 Cole Road in Mariposa.
As of late Saturday afternoon, the fire was at 1,384 acres, according to the National Wildfire Coordinating Group. Cal Fire, which is helping battle the blaze, said the fire was 0% contained. A 25acre spot fire, northeast of the fire and less than a half mile from Wawona, also has been reported.
The fire broke out Thursday afternoon near the Washburn Trail in the Mariposa Grove area of the park. The Mariposa Grove, which is home to the park’s largest grove of sequoias, was evacuated and remains temporarily closed, according to the park.
In the incident overview, the park said a “full initial attack response was dispatched including Yosemite National Park fire resources and state and local cooperators.” Additional resources have been ordered including engines, crews, dozers and aircraft, as well as a California Interagency Incident Management Team, according to the park.
A total of 209 personnel were assigned to the fire as of Friday night.
The park said fire behavior was moderate Friday, with “longrange spotting, group torching and backing.”
Temperatures will rise and humidity levels will fall through the weekend, according to the park. Highs are expected to range in the mid-80s to near 90s under clear skies. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Sierra Fire Watch has been live streaming the fire’s progress on YouTube.
Meanwhile, in Amador and Calaveras counties, the Electra Fire was 70% contained, according to the Cal Fire Amador-El Dorado Unit. The fire has consumed 4,478 acres since breaking out Monday afternoon. Full containment of the fire is expected by July 18.
Evacuation orders were reduced to warnings in parts of both counties but remained in place for Gold Strike and Clinton Bar roads in Amador County and in zones CCU-E024-A, CCU-E026A, CCU-E051-B and CCU-E052-D in Calaveras County.
“Fire activity remained minimal today with the majority of the heat and smoke residing from yesterday’s burning operation,” Cal Fire said in an incident update Friday evening. “Firefighters are working to create and reinforce containment lines.”