French Fire burns near Mariposa CA

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12 p.m. Sunday, July 7

It’s been a busy holiday weekend for firefighters, with two significant wildfires reported in the Valley, plus a fire reported at a mobile home park in Merced County.

The largest fire, the 900-acre French Fire in the Mariposa area, was 60% contained as of Sunday. The fire started July 4 and triggered several evacuations as the fire burned dangerously close to the foothill town’s neighborhoods, KVPR reported.

By Saturday, most evacuation orders were reduced to warnings and the Red Cross had closed its shelter. Cal Fire reported four firefighters were injured during the fire response and at least four structures have been destroyed.

Some of the destruction caused by the fire was posted on social media by residents who were impacted.

Elsewhere in Mariposa County, a second wildfire called the Granite Fire erupted Saturday evening near Narisco Way and Granite Springs Road in the Coulterville Area.

That fire prompted evacuation orders and closed Highway 132 in both directions in that area, ABC 30 reported. As of Cal Fire’s last report, that fire had burned 55 acres and was 75% contained.

In Merced County’s community of Santa Nella, 14 people were displaced after a fire erupted at a mobile home park, ABC 30 reported.

That fire erupted just before 3 a.m. Saturday at Mercury Street near Comet Road. The cause remains under investigation.

8 a.m. Saturday, July 6

Firefighters are making progress on the French Fire, which is burning near Mariposa.

Containment of the blaze had grown to 20% as of 7:30 a.m. Saturday, with 908 acres burned and four structures destroyed. No deaths have been reported, and there have been three reports of injuries to firefighters.

On Friday, FEMA announced it had approved a request from the state to provide funding to fight the fire, KVPR reported.

Highway 140 is now open through to Yosemite National Park without restriction.

Evacuation orders are slowly being reduced to warnings, and Cal Fire on Friday reported a shelter in place order for John C. Fremont Hospital and Yosemite Inn were lifted.

See Cal Fire’s latest update, including evacuation maps and road closures, here.

8 a.m. Friday, July 5

Firefighting crews are continuing to battle the massive French Fire, which erupted around 6:30 p.m. Thursday at French Camp Road and Highway 49 in the Mariposa area.

So far no injuries have been reported and no structures have been destroyed. The cause remain under investigation.

According to the latest Cal Fire update posted Friday morning, the fire has burned 843 acres and is about 5% contained. The fire prompted evacuation orders and warnings in several Mariposa area communities.

Fortunately, winds calmed down overnight, allowing firefighers to make progress, according to the Cal Fire website. After the blaze erupted, firefighters worked to establish a fireline around the entire eastern side of the community of Mariposa. They will continue to focus on the eastern side of the fire.

The Red Cross has set up a shelter at New Life Christian Church located at 5089 Cole Road in Mariposa. Small animals are also accepted, according to the Cal Fire website.

Areas under mandatory evacuation

Hospital Rd- From Silver Creek to the End (up the mountain)

Grosjean Road

Alta Vista Road

Avoca Vale

Old Highway North from 140 to 10th Street

Slaughterhouse Rd

Williams Road

Hospital Road

Smith Road from Highway 140 to Hospital Road

Campbell Road

Pine Street

Dexter View

All of Jones Street

Bullion Street- East Side Only from Hwy 140 to the end of the town area.This includes all side roads that run between Jones and Bullion including 3rd Street – 13th Street

Mariposa Street

Trabucco Street