FRESNO (KMJ) — Smoke from the Ferguson Fire in Mariposa County continues to see parts of Yosemite National Park closed for visitors.
The National Park Service announced Tuesday that Yosemite Valley, Wawona Road, the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, the Merced Grove of Giant Sequoias, Hetch Hetchy, and other areas remain out of bounds.
The first closure due to billowing smoke from the Ferguson Fire was announced on July 25th.
“This is both for safety of people, but particularly the safety and operations of fire fighters,” explained Superintendent Mike Reynolds.
“So you can consider it basically a visitor evacuation.”
Some parts of Yosemite National Park are still accessible, including the Big Oak Flat Road (Highway 120 West) to Crane Flat and Tioga Road (Highway 120 East) from Crane Flat to Tioga Pass.
All trails and campgrounds along Tioga Road, including the Tuolumne Meadows Campground, remain open.
The National Park Service is set to reassess the closure over the weekend.
Hear the report from KMJ’s Dominic McAndrew as it aired:
