Fire crews making slow progress towards stopping Ferguson Fire

MARIPOSA COUNTY, Calif. -- Fire officials say they are making progress towards stopping the Ferguson Fire burning in the area of Yosemite National Park.

The fire has grown to 68,610 acres burned and containment stands at 39 percent.

On Wednesday we learned that two more firefighters have been injured, but details on the extent of the injuries were not immediately available.

RELATED: Fire continues slow march forward

A total of 11 firefighters have been injured battling the Ferguson Fire, and two firefighters have died with the most recent loss just this past Sunday. Brian Hughes, 33, was killed when a tree fell on him.

Fire crews continue to prepare to set backfires inside Yosemite National Park, which are expected to both remove potential fuel for the wildfire and expand containment.

On the southern flank of the fire, crews will burn along Wawona Road (Highway 41) south towards the Wawona Campground. To the north, crews will burn to the Merced Grove of Giant Sequoias.

Fire officials issued an evacuation order for the Wawona community Wednesday as a precaution because of current and predicted fire behavior.

Highway 120 was closed on Thursday afternoon between Yosemite's Big Oak Flat entrance and Crane Flat. That means the only road access to the park is the Tioga Road entrance in the Eastern Sierra near Highway 120 and US 395.

RELATED: Firefighter struck and killed by tree while battling Ferguson Fire

While the backfires help firefighters contain the larger wildfire, they are generating more smoke, which has a negative impact on Central California's already poor air quality.

The poor air quality also led the National Park Service to announce Tuesday that parts of Yosemite National Park will remain closed until at least Sunday, August 5.

Meterologists say that in the coming days, the high pressure system above the fire will weaken. That will decrease temperatures in the Central Valley, but is also expected to increase fire behavior.

On Wednesday night, evacuation orders were lifted for the El Portal Trailer Court, but remain in effect for Anderson Valley, Foresta, Old El Portal, Old Yosemite Road, River Road, and Yosemite View Lodge.

Get the latest on wildfires burning across California here.

FIRE INFO

Road Closures:

• Highway 41/Wawona Road is closed from the Yosemite Valley, through Wawona, to the park's south gate
• Highway 120 is closed between Yosemite's Big Oak Flat entrance and Crane Flat
• Highway 140/Incline Road is closed from Yosemite National Park to Midpines (residents allowed)
• Anderson Valley Road
• Foresta Road
• River Road from Briceburg to the gate at Railroad Flat and all campground areas along Highway 140
• Summit Road
• Old Yosemite Road

Mandatory Evacuations:

These areas are currently under a mandatory evacuation:

• Anderson Valley
• Foresta
• Old El Portal
• Old Yosemite Road
• River Road from Briceburg to the last BLM campground
• Wawona
• Yosemite View Lodge
• Yosemite West

Evacuation Advisories:

This is NOT an Evacuation Order. This is an advisement only of a potential Evacuation Order should conditions change.

• Cedar Lodge/Indian Flat Campground
• El Portal Trailer Court
• Rancheria Flat - Government Housing
• Savage's Trading Post

Evacuation Center:

• New Life Christian Church - 5089 Cole Road, Mariposa CA 95338

Animal Shelters:

Small Animals:

SPCA

5599 California 49

Mariposa CA 95338

Large Animals:

Mariposa County Fairgrounds

5007 Fairgrounds Road

Mariposa CA 95338