Merced Canyon Fire

[Preston]

Hi All,

There is a new fire in the Merced River canyon near El Portal on Hwy 140. It started yesterday at about noon when a motorhome caught fire.

The fire is currently 2,500 ac. with rapid rate of spread on both sides of the canyon, in heavy brush and pine. There is zero containment. Some precautionary evacuations have been made.

Hwy 140 into the park is currently closed. The park is open, and can be accessed from either Hwy 41 or 120.

For more info, see Inciweb.org--Motor Fire Incident/ (http://inciweb.org/incident/2520/).

--P

[Drew Wiley]

Thanks, Preston. I imagine that some of that smoke is going to filter upcanyon and
create haze in the Yos backcountry. On the other hand, I called down to Mineral King today and was told the air has pretty much cleared in Sequoia and Kern canyon, and that all trails are now open.