Telegraph Fire ~ 32,000+ Acres

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Telegraph Fire ~ 32,000+ Acres

By Al Golub, AP

Firefighters watch branches of the Telegraph fire converge near Greeley Hill, Calif. Tuesday.
(Photo Source: USA Today)

Telegraph Fire Incident Information:
Last Updated:	July 30, 2008 7:00 am
Date/Time Started:	June 25, 2008, 3:15 pm
Administrative Unit:	CAL FIRE Madera-Mariposa-Merced Unit
County:	Mariposa County
Location:	Telegraph Road and Sherlock Road in the Midpines Area.
Acres Burned:	32,063 acres
Containment	20% contained
Structures Threatened:	4,000 residences in the communities of Midpines, Briceburg, Mariposa, Greenley Hill, Coulterville, Bear Valley, and Mt. Bullion Camp
Structures Destroyed:	21 Residences and 32 Outbuildings
Injuries:	15 minor
Evacuations:	Mandatory Evacuations Various roads between Mariposa, Midpines and Greeley Hill. As of 12 p.m. the following roads are in the evacuation area: Texas Hill Rd., Dogtown Rd from Texas Hill Rd to Schilling Rd., Schilling Rd to Hwy 49N, Michaeloaks Rd. with road closure beginning at Hwy 49N. Evacuation Warnings Parts of the communities of Mariposa, Midpines, Greeley Hill, Coulterville, and Briceburg. For the latest on evacuations contact (209) 966-1133. Evacuation Center: Mariposa Elementary School 5044 Jones St, Mariposa
Cause:	Human (Target Shooting)
Estimated Cost:	$13.9 million
Resources Committed :	3,790 Personnel (1,866 CAL FIRE) 443 Fire Engines 74 Hand Crews 65 Dozers 38 Watertenders 15 Helicopters 12 Airtankers
Cooperating Agencies:	CAL FIRE, Mariposa County Fire, Mariposa Sheriffs Department, BLM, USFS, National Park Service, OES, CCC, and California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
Conditions:	The fire is burning in the Merced River Drainage, on both sides of the river. The fire is burning with a rapid rate of spread in multiple directions. Accessibility problems due to steep and rocky terrain. Active fire behavior is being observed in all directions primarily on the south and east flanks. The fire is causing partial and complete closures of Hwy 140 leading to the main entrance to Yosemite National Park. For the latest highway conditions visit Caltrans. CAL FIRE Incident Command Team #8 is in command of the fire. Download the latest fact sheet Click Here to view a map of the fire
Phone Numbers:	(209) 966-4784 or (209) 966-4785

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How fires get their names

Every year in California thousands of wildfires start throughout the state. In most cases, the dispatch center sending the initial resources to a wildland fire will designate a name for the fire, but the first on scene engine or fire official can also name the incident. Fires are usually named for the area in which they start – a geographical location, local landmark, street, lake, mountain, peak, etc. Quickly naming the fire provides responding fire resources with an additional locater, and allows fire officials to track and prioritize incidents by name. For example during the Southern California Fire Siege of 2003, the largest wildland fire in California history, the Cedar Fire in San Diego County, was named after the Cedar Creek Falls area where it started. The destructive Old Fire, which burned during the same time period in San Bernardino County, was named after the road along which it started - Old Waterman Canyon Road.

CAL FIRE is the largest fire department in California and the second largest fire department in the United States. CDF - CAL FIRE Firefighters answer the call more than 300,000 times a year. CAL FIRE Firefighters make up the fire department for 30 of our 58 counties in California and more than 100 local communities. We serve as the incident command during many of California’s most serious disasters. CAL FIRE Firefighters respond to many various types and forms of calls ranging from structural fires, to auto accidents, to earthquakes, to floods, to the spilling of hazardous materials, to every conceivable disaster; CAL FIRE answer's the calls. CAL FIRE is the largest fire department in California and the second largest fire department in the United States . CAL FIRE firefighters protect 33 million acres of State Responsibility Area (SRA). We have over 4,000 members within CAL FIRE and CAL FIRE is associated with the California Professional Firefighters (CPF) and the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF).

CFN - CALIFORNIA FIRE NEWS - CAL FIRE NEWS

Wednesday, July 30, 2008