Telegraph fire near Yosemite 15 percent contained

By BARBARA ANDERSON,
THE FRESNO BEE

last updated: July 29, 2008 05:24:15 PM

UPDATE - 3:45 p.m. The Telegraph fire has grown to nearly 30,000 acres and is 15 percent contained, Cal Fire reports. The agency says it has cost an estimated $10.1 million to fight the fire, which has resulted in minor injuries to 12 firefigthers. Cal Fire also says that flames in some places are 100 feet high as the blaze works its way through rugged terrain.

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UPDATE - 9:45 a.m. The Telegraph fire grew to nearly 30,000 acres overnight and continues to threaten the foothill communities of Mariposa, Briceburg, Midpines and Greeley Hill west of Yosemite National Park.

Cal Fire reported this morning that 25 homes and 27 other buildings have burned. More than 4,000 residences are threatened.

A mandatory evacuation for Midpines is in effect. All residents in the immediate fire area — east of Highway 49 and north of Highway 140 — are advised to be ready to evacuate.

Highway 140 from three miles west of Briceburg to four miles west of El Portal remains closed. Nearly 3,500 firefighters from around the state are battling the blaze, which began Friday afternoon. The cause has been identified as target shooting.

Afternoon wind, steep terrain and thick stands of chamise, manzanita and oak have been a challenge for firefighters. Flames as high as 100 feet were reported Monday.

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A wildfire continued raging across Mariposa County on Monday, raising the number of homes destroyed to 25 and leaving scores of evacuees wondering when they can return home.

The Telegraph fire grew to 27,000 acres and was only 10 percent contained Monday night. The blaze forced the closure of Highway 140 into Yosemite National Park in the afternoon, but commuters were being escorted through the burned area of the road starting Monday night.

Several thousand firefighters battled the flames with more than 450 engines, helicopters, air tankers and bulldozers.

Flames that in some places leapt 100 feet into a grayish Sierra sky threatened about 4,000 structures. Ash floated to the ground near Mariposa, creating the eerie sense of a summer snowstorm. Authorities added about 25 homes in the Coulterville area to the mandatory evacuation list.

The day culminated with a community meeting at Mariposa County High School, where more than 500 people packed the facility while others listened through open doors. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection officials said the communities of Mariposa, Midpines and the Mount Bullion Conservation Camp were under an evacuation advisory.

Kelley McClard, 50, learned at the meeting that a home her family had built 15 years ago had been destroyed. She vowed to rebuild.

"That's where we belong," she said.

Rep. George Radanovich, R-Mariposa, attended the meeting. He said his home, on Ben Hur Road, was safe but that he had friends who were not so fortunate.

A very close call

At Mariposa Elementary School earlier Monday, evacuees waited for news.

"I'm one of the homeless," said Mike Chaty, 54, a California Highway Patrol lieutenant.

On Saturday, he and wife, Renee, 46, prepared to leave their house, thinking it was a voluntary evacuation. They grabbed a few things, but then decided to stop to eat. A sheriff's deputy came to their house and said, "You've got to get out now."

"We could see the flames coming directly up the canyon to our house," Chaty said.

They had five cats, but could get only three out.

"As we were driving out, the flames are coming up to eat the house," Mike Chaty said.

Tears in his eyes, he added: "This is very, very traumatic."

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