(photo courtesy: U.S. Forest Service)
(KMJ) – The Ferguson fire, burning in Mariposa County’s Merced River Canyon, is now the largest, active wild fire in California. The blaze has torched over 17,000 acres and continues to burn in steep, rugged terrain.
This fire continues to cause smoke health advisories for most of the Central Valley as well as the following Manditory Evacuations: Incline Road from Foresta Bridge to the last BLM campground; Jerseydale / Mariposa Pines; Cedar Lodge/ Indian Flat Campground, Savage’s Trading Post and Sweetwater Ridge.
Highway 140 remains closed from Abbie Road in El Portal to 1.5 miles North of Midpines. As is Incline Road and River Road from Briceburg to the gate at Railroad Flat and all Campground areas closed.
A fire evacuation center is set up at New Life Christian Fellowship located at 5089 Cole Road in Mariposa.
A Small Animal Shelter is now in place at the SPCA of Mariposa County located at 5599 CA-49 in Mariposa. And a Large Animal Shelter is set up at the Mariposa County Fairgrounds.
The cause of this fire remains under investigation.
