Dog Rock Fire Cause Released – Fire 25% Contained

Here’s an update on the Dog Rock Fire.

The fire is now believed to have been started by sparks from a trailer safety chain dragging on the pavement, vehicle brake parts generating a spark or other sources.

Highway 140 from Park Line near El Portal to the Big Oak Flat Road and El Portal Road Junction is closed.

The park is open and campgrounds, hotels, and other visitor services are open and operating at normal hours. Except for the closure of State Highway 140 at El Portal all other park roads are open. Access to Yosemite is available via Wawona (Hwy 41) and Big Oak Flat Road (Hwy 120) and via Tioga Pass (Hwy 120). Visitors may see smoke in the immediate vicinity of the fire.

The fire is currently at 279 acres with 25% containment.

The evacuation order for Foresta has been lifted.

Control lines and hoselays along the north end of the fire are complete. Crews will work to mop-up that area of the fire to assure it remains contained.

The fire continues to burn downhill toward El Portal Rd and firefighters have established a hoselay from the road along the east edge of the fire to contain hotspots. Snags and rolling material continue to fall on El Portal Rd and firefighters quickly responded to these threats. Ground crews received heavy support from helicopters making water drops, especially in areas that are unsafe due to terrain and snags.

Crews are working along El Portal Rd. to assure no burning material crosses the road.