Telegraph fire near Yosemite 15 percent contained

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.

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.

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."

Katrina Stone, 29, was at the evacuation center with her three sons, Devon Blackwell, 9, Logan Stone, 7, and Travis Stone, 4.

She said people tell her the fire has "just one more mountain to get to our place." Her parents have lost their house.

Her boys "have got the clothes they're wearing, but I got everybody out, and that's what matters."

Maureen Correia, 67, and Doyle Correia, 72, paid attention to the recent Oliver fire near Oakhurst and decided two weeks ago to make a list of what they would take if they needed to evacuate. When they had to evacuate at noon Sunday, they had time to gather everything: important papers, medical records, photos of a daughter who recently died, deeds, bank account numbers, mementos, all packed into a sport utility vehicle.

They also evacuated a banty rooster named Rastus and a hen named Chickie.

So far their house seems fine.

At the shelter, the Mariposa Unified School District set up three computers, with Google Earth satellite images of the area where the evacuees' homes are. Evacuees constantly monitor the computers in an effort to see their homes. There is an overlay of fire activity, but it is not as up to date.

In nearby Yosemite Valley, smoke cleared somewhat and officials expected Pacific Gas & Electric Co. to restore power Monday night, but the national park was dealt a blow when authorities closed State Highway 140 from Mariposa to Yosemite on Monday afternoon because of the fire. Authorities did not know how long the highway -- the western entrance into Yosemite -- would remain closed.

The Telegraph fire is the latest devastating blaze in California's tumultuous 2008 fire season.

Weather turns more favorable

Authorities said a target shooter sparked the fire Friday. As the blaze grew Saturday, temperatures topping 100 degrees and low humidity made it difficult for firefighters.

Monday, however, the high temperature was 90 degrees, down slightly from the day before, with little wind, said Jim Dudley, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Hanford. Humidity went up to 23 percent, the moisture reducing fire spread.

The weather service forecast similar conditions today, with slightly higher humidity.

An air quality alert remains in effect today for Mariposa and Tuolumne counties. The smoky conditions are likely to fluctuate, and residents of those counties are advised to avoid going outdoors where visibility drops to less than three miles, officials said.

In general, the air in the foothill and mountain areas is unhealthy for people with asthma, lung disease, heart disease and other chronic illnesses.

Smoke from the wildfires could drift into parts of Stanislaus, San Joaquin and Merced counties. The valley air district is forecasting good to moderate air quality in the Northern San Joaquin Valley today.

Some avoiding Yosemite

In Yosemite, Monday's traffic appeared lighter than usual because some people believe the park is closed, said park ranger Greg Nespor. He did not have figures on visitors.

Through much of Monday, generators continued to supply electricity to restaurants, grocery stores and hotel lobbies. Power lines to Yosemite Valley were shut down Saturday because of the potential risk to firefighters working beneath the wires. The fire then brought down a transmission line that carries electricity to the park, PG&E officials said. It's not clear when crews will repair that line.

The utility brought two mobile generators from Sacramento on Sunday to provide power to residents and some businesses.

Daily air quality forecasts for the Northern San Joaquin Valley are available at www.valleyair.org.

Modesto Bee staff writer Ken

Carlson contributed to this report.

This story was originally published July 29, 2008 at 4:34 AM with the headline "Telegraph fire near Yosemite 15 percent contained."