Dangerous Fire at Midpines near Yosemite

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Anastasia

climber
Not there
Jul 28, 2008 - 12:38am PT
How is everyone doing out there?
I heard a few people were staying behind to protect their own homes... Any reports on their efforts and well being?
AF
Standing Strong

Trad climber
sunlight on the surf
Jul 28, 2008 - 01:02am PT
sad news. i remember when a girl from my highschool, and middle school, eva schike, died in the line of duty while fighting a fire in the foothills.

godspeed to the firefighters, the residents, and the forest.
Ksolem

Trad climber
Monrovia, Ca
Jul 28, 2008 - 01:38am PT
The ricochet concept seems like a long shot to me.
Fluoride

Trad climber
Hollywood, CA
Jul 28, 2008 - 01:49am PT
I just got back from Tuolumne, my God it is sooo smokey up there.

For perspective: Saturday morning all is clear, we head up and do Great White Book as a warm up. Gorgeous view on top, Half Dome looking clear and proud from atop Stately Pleasure Dome under clear blue sky. We go do some other stuff, take a quick dip in Tenaya then my partner wants to end the day with some pump and he wants to do Death Crack (him, I belay slaved knowing my limits and his skill). We head up the back way and set up a top rope and notice Half Dome is fading and it's getting smokier where we are. It's sometime after 4pm at this point. By the time we're done, Half Dome is no longer visable and has been completely shrouded by smoke. And now this smoke cloud is making it's way over Tuolumne, literally blackening the sun around 5:30 yesterday (at least at DC). It was like a wall of smoke encroaching so I knew things had to be getting bad down on the westside. I have some really cool pics of it I'm going to upload later.

By the time we were down, our eyes and throats were burning pretty bad and it's obvious the high country is getting a big dose of smoke as it leaves the valley and pushes east. From down at the Mobil that night you could see the plume at sunset billowing north and east of Lee Vining for miles across the horizon.

This morning was really smokey so we headed down to Rock Creek where the sky was blue. On the drive back up to the Mobil later you could hardly make out the outline of the Minarets or Banner/Ritter from the 395 cause the smoke was already down to the Mammoth area. Blue sky didn't really open up til south of Crowley.

I cannot fathom what the westside must be like. With all the smoke in Tuolume, the valley must be miserably worse. The visibility through the smoke must be nil. All those old growth trees going up is causing a lot of smoke for quite a ways.

Thoughts going out to those who have homes or friends near or in the way of the fire. Hope all those firefighters have conditions change so they can get some control on this monster.

ps will post pics tomorrow. Did get some pretty surreal & cool shots.
BrassNuts

Trad climber
Boulder Colorado
Jul 28, 2008 - 11:12am PT
A wild land fire fighter friend of mine sent me this information post regarding the Midpines fire this morning;

Telegraph (CA-MMU-009779) The fire has burned 18,150 acres and is 0 %percent contained. The northeast end of the community of Mariposa (Avaca Vale, French Camp and Penny Royal Roads) is being impacted by the fire at this time as well as the Communities of Midpines, Mariposa, Greeley Hill, Coulterville, Bear Valley , and Mt. Bullion Conservation Camp. There are approximately 2000 residences that are threatened. Eight (8) homes and & seven (7) outbuildings / others have been damaged or destroyed. There are significant road closures in the area of the fire. Communication towers for television and radio as well as repeater sites are also threatened. A 70kv electrical transmission line has been damaged leaving Yosemite Valley without power. The fire threatens the Merced Wild and Scenic River , which may lead to the closure of Highway 140 and the Arch Rock entrance to Yosemite Valley 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 steep, rocky and isolated terrain. The fire has not started major movement at this time, however the fire is very active on the south and east flanks. Spotting has been observed on the active flanks.
Domingo

Trad climber
El Portal, CA
Jul 28, 2008 - 11:57am PT
The above is mostly correct, although the fire is now at 10% containment (whatever that means). This is down from 16% last night (again, whatever that means). It has spread from 18000 at 5:30pm to 26000 as of 8am this morning. At least fifteen homes have been destroyed, and 190 have been completely evacuated (residents are NOT allowed to return).

The fire is burning on both sides of the road, but very weakly on the south side, at Briceburg. If it gets much stronger, we've been told the 140 will close. The fire has made it 12 miles by road from El Portal to the Slate Creek Bridge.

2000 homes remain on pre-evacuation notice.

Rumors that probably have merit (but are still rumors): The area north of the Fremont Hospital has been hit the worst. EP will get power back tonight; PG&E will be bringing in generators east of the fire and west of El Portal, just like they did for the landslide. I don't know what this means for the Valley.

Presumably, we'll still have taco night on Thursday.


Everyone's fine. All those who have been evacuated have places to sleep, as far as I know. Last night we had perishable potlucks and barbecues. A few people have generators (and they're really, REALLY loud). Anyone who has been to El Portal/Midpines knows how close this community can be, and people are taking care of each other.

To hear current evacuation notices, call (209) 966-1133.
Jaybro

Social climber
wuz real!
Jul 28, 2008 - 03:09pm PT
The view from Lembert, yesterday, 6 pm. Unicorn in the middle, Cathedral peak, barely discernible, on right


Yesterday morning the flag at the Tioga entrance station was flying at half mast. The booth guy said it was for a ranger/firefighter who had been killed, fighting the fire.
SteveW

Trad climber
The state of confusion
Jul 28, 2008 - 03:15pm PT
Prayers for everyone--the displaced and those fighting
the fire.
Fluoride

Trad climber
Hollywood, CA
Jul 28, 2008 - 03:57pm PT
See my above post, here's the pics that go along with the story.

Here's the sun being overtaken by the smoke around 5:30pm Saturday near the base of Stately Pleasure Dome:


Half Dome clearly in the distance atop SPD, Saturday morning:

By 5pm, it was gone:

And within 30 minutes, it looked like this:
Fluoride

Trad climber
Hollywood, CA
Jul 28, 2008 - 04:04pm PT
Driving down Tioga Pass, the wildfire sunset Saturday night:

From Lee Vining Saturday night looking north at the plume of smoke:

By Sunday morning, same place, the peaks in the distance are no longer visible, looking towards Lee Vining:
Mighty Hiker

Social climber
Vancouver, B.C.
Jul 28, 2008 - 04:30pm PT
Thanks, Fluoride!

Big fires do make for dramatic photos, especially sunset and sunrise. And they're part of the natural cycle. Let's hope this one is brought under control quickly, without further loss to life or property.
Senor Pinche Wey

Big Wall climber
OB
Jul 28, 2008 - 11:10pm PT
bump
Eric Beck

Sport climber
Bishop, California
Jul 28, 2008 - 11:49pm PT
We were in Tuolumne over the weekend. Driving back to our camp at Porcupine on Saturday evening, Half Dome was only very dimly visible from Omsted Point.
Mr_T

Trad climber
Somewhere, CA
Jul 29, 2008 - 12:32am PT
Highway 140 currently closed.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/07/28/BAVL120P2J.DTL&tsp=1

Caltrans:
http://www.dot.ca.gov/cgi-bin/roads.cgi

Karl Baba

Trad climber
Yosemite, Ca
Topic Author's Reply - Jul 29, 2008 - 01:08am PT
I know there are people who lost everything in this fire, which isn't over yet. It's probably too early to know how to help, but let's keep ideas in mind about what we can do to help those who lost their homes and possessions.

When anybody finds info on relief organization or funds, let's post them here or on a a separate thread (or both) I'm sure we all have clothes, gear, pots and pans and whatnot that could help folks get a new start when the time is right. Some might even have cash and such.

Once a reliable donation vehicle is set-up, I'll try arrange to donate profits of photos for some time as a small contribution to the community.

peace

karl


neebee

Social climber
calif/texas
Jul 29, 2008 - 01:53am PT
hey there... bump for karl's nice idea...

say, how is this going now... does anyone have an update?

also, i am sorry to hear of a fireman's loss of life... my prayers for all concerned....

how is the weather/winds, etc, doing as to this, also....
hope somepone nearby the area can share soon...

praying still... very sad...
Chicken Skinner

Trad climber
Yosemite
Jul 29, 2008 - 02:21am PT
Just got home from Merced and had to drive 41 to get here. I bought a generator today and now I am styling with a fridge, freezer and internet. I drove through the fire zone earlier today and it didn't seem too bad but apparently it picked up and forced closing of 140. Driving 41 was a bit smoky and a lot of traffic driving pretty fast. Came upon a nasty looking accident in about the windiest part of the road. I have been raking and ridding my yard of fuel sources like a demon, just in case. I am pretty sure El Portal will be O.K. My biggest worry are the embers that drop from the sky. Karl, let me know if you plan a fundraiser, I was contacted by my wine sponsor today and they would love to help.

Ken

P.S. If I have to evacuate, I will grab the YCA artifacts and forget my personal belongings.

Dr. Rock

Ice climber
Castle Rock
Jul 29, 2008 - 04:30am PT
Did that thing hop across the S Fork Merced?
I wonder how The Bug hostel is doing?
Chicken Skinner

Trad climber
Yosemite
Jul 29, 2008 - 09:15am PT
Bug Hostel looked fine yesterday.

Ken
Florida-Guy

Social climber
Orlando, FL
Jul 29, 2008 - 09:35am PT
Anyone know how close the fire is getting to the Cedar Lodge just down the river from El Portal? We have very dear friends who live on the hill just above the hotel.
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