French Fire Evacuation Orders Reduced

Update at 10:15 a.m.: The French Fire acreage is still 908 and the containment has climbed to 25 percent as it continues to burn in the Midpines area of Mariposa County near Grosjean and Alta Vista roads. Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office has updated that some evacuation orders have been reduced to warnings this morning. Sheriff’s officials provided this update:

EVACUATION AREAS REDUCED:
Evacuations for the following areas have been reduced to an Evacuation Warning and are now open to residents only. Residents will need to show identification at each road closure.

• Hospital Road, including all side roads
• Grosjean
• Alta Vista
• Avoca Vale
• Old Highway North

*All other areas not listed remain under evacuation orders. Be aware that heavy fire and emergency traffic will remain in the area as fire suppression/repair efforts continue. Please continue to avoid the area as much as possible. If you must be in the area, please drive with extreme caution.

ROADWAY INFORMATION:
All roadways in those areas will be open to residents only.

GENERAL INFORMATION FOR RETURNING HOME AFTER A FIRE:

• Safety Information: Residents are asked not to wander around their property if possible. Please stay inside or near your homes while fire personnel remain working in the area. Fire personnel will continue to work in the above areas all hours of the day and night.
• Inspect surroundings with caution: Be extremely cautious around trees, power poles, and other structures that may have been weakened by the fire. High winds can easily topple such compromised structures.
• Maintain a fire watch: Regularly check your property for any signs of residual fires, like smoke or hidden embers, especially in concealed areas like roof gutters. Please call 911 if you need to report any fire danger or dangerous situations to your home or property.
Returning Home after a fire: Returning Home Checklist | CAL FIRE (readyforwildfire.org)

CLOSED PUBLIC AREAS:
• Stockton Creek Reservoir & Trail
• Road to MCHS Baseball Field/Track

Original post at 8:35 a.m.: Midpines, CA — The acreage and the containment have remained steady overnight in the French Fire, burning in the Midpines area of Mariposa County near Grosjean and Alta Vista roads.

The acreage is still 908 and the containment has climbed to 25 percent. CAL Fire reports that overnight, firefighters constructed an additional fireline and contingency line in the area near Allred Road, Stockton Creek, and Slaughterhouse Road. They added, “Due to the steep terrain and potential for burning fuels to roll across the containment line, mop-up within the fire perimeter, line improvement, and tactical patrol where fireline has been established will continue today.” Weather forecasts for the fire area indicate excessive heat will continue to increase and winds will strengthen while relative humidity and fuel moisture decrease.

“These conditions create fuels that are more receptive to ignition and areas of unburned fuel within the fire perimeter may burn, causing smoke to be visible to the public,” according to CAL Fire.

Four structures have been destroyed and 830 remain threatened. Four firefighters have been injured working the blaze. Damage inspectors have arrived and are conducting inspections. CAL Fire has provided the latest on evacuation, road closure, shelter, and repopulation information:

Evacuation Information:

Evacuation Orders and Warnings:

Road Closures:

• Grosjean
• Alta Vista
• Avoca Vale
• Hospital Road past John C. Fremont
• Old Hwy North from Hwy 140 to 10th Street

Repopulation:

Evacuations for the following areas have been reduced to FULLY OPEN.

• Jones Rd including all side roads- Excluding the Roadway to the MCHS Baseball Fields/Track
• Campbell Way
• Dexter View
• Pine Street
• Smith Rd from Hwy 140 to Hospital Rd
• Hospital Rd from Smith to just past John C. Fremont, Including St. Andrews Rd.
• Williams Road

Shelter In Place Lifted

• John C. Fremont Hospital
• Yosemite Inn
• Quality Inn

ROAD OPEN- Updated

Highway 140 is open through to Yosemite National Park without restriction.

Be aware that heavy fire and emergency traffic will remain in the area as fire suppression efforts continue. Please continue to avoid the area as much as possible. If you must be in the area, please drive with extreme caution.

Resources on scene total 1,090 personnel, including 107 engines, 21 water tenders, 29 hand crews, 21 dozers, other 45, and 4 helicopters. Find an updated map and all the evacuation, road closures, and repopulation information now on mml.com.