UPDATED at 1:53 p.m. PDT Oct. 8, 2019
Activity on the Briceburg Fire north of Mariposa, California, increased after noon when the smoke column broke through the inversion.
9:31 a.m. PDT October 8, 2019
The map above shows heat detected by a satellite on the Briceburg Fire at 3:42 a.m. Tuesday. It indicates growth on the north and east sides, some of which could be firing operations by firefighters to stop the spread.
CAL FIRE is reported at about 9 a.m. PDT Tuesday morning that it has burned 800 acres. Our very, very rough unofficial estimate leads us to believe that with the firing operation it could be twice that size.
The fire is on both sides of Highway 140 just west of the Sierra National Forest 12 air miles southwest of the El Portal entrance to Yosemite, 7 miles north of Mariposa, and one mile west of the Sierra National Forest. At 6:46 a.m. PDT Highway 140 was closed in the Briceburg area.
Some shots from the Briceburg Fire , Mariposa Co. Monday afternoon #BriceburgFire pic.twitter.com/E8J9ExH3Ua
— Tim Walton (@Photo1Prod) October 8, 2019
Below: time lapse video of the Briceburg Fire as seen from the Bullion camera near Mariposa, CA.
Stunning timelapse of the #BriceburgFire which was burning out of control on Monday evening.
Matt pic.twitter.com/0CUgiJjHIE— BBC Weather (@bbcweather) October 8, 2019
Originally published at 6:15 p.m. PDT October 7, 2019
The Briceburg Fire burning on both sides of Highway 140 has required the closure of one of the roads leading into Yosemite National Park. Since the fire started October 6 it has burned at least 500 acres, according to CAL FIRE Monday afternoon. (see map above)
When smoke from the fire broke through an inversion Monday afternoon the intensity increased significantly.
Highway 140 that leads to an entrance on the west side of the park is closed near the small community of Briceberg. The fire is 12 air miles southwest of the El Portal entrance to Yosemite, 7 miles north of Mariposa, and one mile west of the Sierra National Forest.
At least eight air tankers were working the fire Monday afternoon in addition to multiple helicopters.
An evacuation order is in place for Briceburg Campground.
The weather forecast for the Briceburg area does not include any extreme conditions over the next 24 hours according to the National Weather Service. The humidity Monday night will be 41 percent with winds out of the northeast at 6 mph. On Tuesday firefighters should expect winds from the west at 6 to 9 mph, 15 percent RH, 85 degrees, and partly cloudy skies in the afternoon.
We will update this article as more information becomes available.
I’m headed to Mariposa County to cover the #BriceburgFire, which has shut down Hwy 140 near @YosemiteNPS. The fire is 250+ acres, and 0% contained. What’s worse: PG&E is monitoring a “severe wind event” right now.
Watch the video below for everything we know about the fire so far pic.twitter.com/bQtPSSfjtQ— Marie Edinger KMPH (@MarieEdinger) October 7, 2019
Hi Bill,
Thank you very much for this website exclusively for information on wild fires and forest fires. It looks like “Global Warming” is not going away soon. This year in Phoenix we only had on Monson rain. Rain total in Phoenix is a little above 2″so far, the lowest if compared to previous years.
How did it start and how many fire fighters are involved and I hope with God speed everyone is safe
We’re on Colorado Road in Mariposa. Any new news?
PG&E is asking customers to:
Update their contact information at pge.com/mywildfirealerts or by calling 1-866-743-6589 during normal business hours. PG&E will use this information to alert customers through automated calls, texts, and emails, when possible, prior to, and during, a Public Safety Power Shutoff.
Has this fire impacted or will it impact the Briceburg BLM ?
Would it impact the BLM residence on the other side of the river.
Note: There’s a AT&T communications tower within 100 yards of the BLM Residence
Please don’t let it burn too close to Yosemite National Park. Isn’t it kind of late in season to burn in Northern California?
Not really, fire season goes through November. I highly doubt this fire will reach the National Park, because almost all the country between this fire and the park burned last year in the massive Ferguson fire, so it won’t burn again this soon.
Thank you, Susan, for your reply and input.
Good news Susan. We live in Midpines. No traffic on 140 except locals. Sky is smokey, but not as bad as former fires near us. I worry that because of the winds the fire will burn toward us. Word is that PG&E will shut off power tomorrow. Is that true? If so who will be shut off?
sadlu our worst fires the last 3 hears have occurred in october and even november!