Telegraph Fire News (July-August, 2008)
Since a handful of people have been asking if we have lost our home… No, the fire is still quite far from Yosemite (say 20-30 miles) and is not threatening El Portal either. The main impacts on the park are major power outages and lots of smoke. Most of the business places are running on generators, but most (perhaps all) residences are without power. I'm not sure if the guest rooms in the hotels are powered up or just the commons areas.
As for the smoke, it was nasty on Saturday, but hasn't been as bad since. That said, I can barely see the outline of Half Dome from the Valley floor. Supposedly, power will come back on in the Valley tonight. PG&E has already delivered a couple of giant generators which they are now trying to hook up to the substation down valley. I'm not sure how long until power comes back on in El Portal, Wawona and Yosemite West.
This is still a bad event for locals. I think most people know at least one person who is in the fire path and a freak rainstorm would be most welcome right now!
Update, July 29:
There are now 3400 firefighters on scene, 25 homes have been lost, 28,000 acres involved, and only 10% contained.
Update, July 30: 3790 firefighters, 443 engines, 27 aircraft.
I've been listening to the scanner and have heard a few "Everything is looking really good out here," "Everything's holding real well" and "It's right on that tenuous edge... if it looks like it's getting a head of steam we'll whack it down."
"This would be a fun one to be a dozer driver on... Those guys must be wasted... Did they work all night? Yeah they did..."
You can listen live to the scanner feed.
Also you can get some better incident maps at http://geomac.usgs.gov/. Click on "Wildfire Mapping" and then choose Telegraph, CA from the drop down.
There are folks with far better sources:
If you know a rain dance, please do it.
Comments
Telegraph Fire - Smoke in Yosemite Valley
Your comments and the reports from the National Park Service are the most informative to me right now. You are reporting from inside Yosemite Valley and have a more personal experience to share. We have reservations starting August 2 in the valley and we are keeping track of the air quality. A little smoke doesn't bother us, but the affect the air quality can have on our lungs does. We don't know a rain dance, but we are sure praying for rain or some other miracle to help all the people who are being affected by this terrible tragedy! Thanks so much and is you don't mind updating, please do so if you can.
Well thanks for that, but...
Well thanks for that comment, but honestly, I think you'll get better info from the links I gave above. In fact, I mostly wrote this page so I would know where to find the links and I saw your comment because I came here just to click through and read the latest from Calfire.
Anyway, I just talked to someone who spent the last three days at the Incident Command. He said they're really trying to draw a line in the sand at Ferguson Ridge and, failing that, the South Fork of the Merced. He and another friend who was here through the A-Rock fire think that by Thursday there will be some major progress on fighting the fire.
Of course, once the fire is contained, it will still be a long time before the smoke clears. Currently, air quality varies. I've kind of quit running, but not hiking and climbing, for what that's worth. The mornings aren't bad and then the afternoons vary depending on winds and whatnot. For example, today we could see Half Dome from Tunnel View, whereas a couple days ago we couldn't even see the outline. As I write this (10:18am on Wednesday), I can see Half Dome with decent detail.
From what I see among friends, if you have asthma, it is very uncomfortable, possibly dangerous if you have bad asthma. Me, I'm just your normal allergenic guy (hay fever, fir trees). On Sunday my eyes were itching and watering, but since then the primary impact is visual (and a reticence to shower at home).
DEALING WITH SMOKE
HELPFUL INFO:
For those who find themselves in a smoke-filled environment such as this, DO make use of a NIOSH-certified N95 face mask, available inexpensively at most drug stores.
The standard dust masks that most of us use for weed-whacking or woodworking are not made to filter out the microscopic particulate matter found in smoke that can be VERY harmful - especially if you already have lung or respiratory problems.
I always carry a number of these masks for my wife and me when travelling in fire-prone areas of California.
Thanks Chuck. Not a bad
Thanks Chuck. Not a bad idea.
The air is way clearer now, by the way.