Posted by: thepinetree on 10/08/2014 08:49 PM
Updated by: thepinetree on 10/08/2014 08:49 PM
Expires: 01/01/2019 12:00 AM
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Dog Rock Fire Update #2 October 8, 2014
Yosemite, CA...“On behalf of Yosemite National Park, we would like to express our deepest condolences for the loss of the Cal Fire pilot, Geoffrey “Craig” Hunt, who lost his life yesterday fighting the Dog Rock Fire in the park,” stated Don Neubacher, Yosemite National Park Superintendent. “He died while providing a great public service and we share in the mourning and sadness of this loss with our Cal Fire brothers and sisters. Wildland firefighting is an inherently dangerous job and we thank Cal Fire for all their support and sacrifice. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones.” The Dog Rock Fire, which began October 7, 2014 in afternoon near El Portal, is currently at 246 acres, with 10% containment....
A California Interagency Incident Management Team 3, a Type 1 team will took over management of the fire at 6 pm this evening.
A press conference was held this morning at the Cedar Lodge. The NPS expressed condolences to the family of the deceased pilot and Cal Fire. A NPS honor guard returned the remains of the pilot to Cal Fire honor guard this morning.
There is active fire along the road, rock fall hazards, and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), and other agencies are performing an investigation of the aircraft incident. They are working closely with the Incident Management Team.
There are over 200 firefighters assigned to the fire. Federal helicopters and air tankers were being used today.
Highway 140 remains closed at the park line, it will likely be a minimum of 24-48 hours before it is re-opened.
Electrical power remains out in Yosemite Valley but we hope to restore it within 48 hours if conditions improve. There is still active fire underneath the power lines.
Evacuation orders are still in effect for residents of Foresta. There are no other evacuation orders at this time.
All of the other areas of the park remain open. California Highways 41, 120 - Big Oak Flat Road and Tioga Pass as well as the road immediately in the Valley remain open.
Smoke will likely be prevalent in El Portal in the morning and in Yosemite Valley in the afternoon.
The Fire information lines are: 209-372-0327, 372-0328, and 372-0329. They are staffed with fire information officers between the hours of 8am and 8pm.
For More Information
Fire information: gary_wuchner@nps.gov,
Cal Fire information concerning questions related to the aircraft incident : Daniel Berlant, (916) 651-3473
Fire information staffed lines: 209 372-0327; 372-0328; 372-0329.
For health effects of smoke: www.mariposacounty.org/index.aspx?NID=89
For Yosemite air quality: www.nps.gov/yose/naturescience/aqmonitoring.htm
For smoke updates: www.californiasmokeinfo.blogspot.com
For http://www.nps.gov/yose/blogs/fireinfo.htm.
Yosemite National Park Web page: Yosemite Wildland Fire Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Yosemite -Wildland-Fire/12463296455395
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