Firefighter Dies Battling Ferguson Fire

Mariposa, CA — CAL Fire confirms that a heavy fire equipment operator from the Madera-Mariposa-Merced Unit has tragically died.

Braden Varney was helping to fight the Ferguson Fire burning in the Sierra National Forest. He leaves behind a wife and two young children, according to CAL Fire. No additional information is available in regards to the death. CAL Fire asks that you keep his family and friends in your prayers. The Ferguson Fire started at 10:35pm yesterday in El Portal in Mariposa County. It remains 130 acres and five percent contained. It was initially a unified command between CAL Fire and the US Forest Service, but it has now been turned over to just the US Forest Service. Click here to view an earlier story.

For a summary of coverage of the Ferguson Fire, updates are here.