USFS Photo
El Portal, CA — Citing public safety as the top priority, Highway 140 near the Ferguson Fire Burn Scar will close this afternoon.
The ongoing storm could eventually impact the highway, so a 3pm closure is scheduled for public safety reasons. The closure will stretch for 17 miles between Bear Creek in Midpines to Foresta Road in El Portal. Caltrans officials are notably concerned about the possibility of mud and rock slides. It remains unclear when the stretch of Highway 140 will reopen. After the storm passes, Caltrans crews will go out and inspect the road for any damage.
The Ferguson Fire ignited on July 13 and burned 96,901 acres in the Sierra National Forest, Stanislaus National Forest and Yosemite National Park. Yosemite Valley was forced to close for a couple of weeks over the summer.
To view the latest on the storm system, click here.
Written by BJ Hansen.
Sign up for our Breaking News Alerts and the myMotherLode.com Daily Newsletters by clicking here. Report breaking news, traffic or weather to our News Hotline (209) 532-6397. Send Mother Lode News Story photos to news@clarkebroadcasting.com.
For Caltrans traffic information for Highway’s 4, 49, 59, 108, and 120 plus a view of traffic on other Mother Lode roads and gas prices click on “Traffic” or keyword: traffic For an overview of extreme weather news stories go here.