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Up-canyon winds drive Motor Fire




A Type I helicopter battles the Motor Fire in the Moss Creek area.

A Type I helicopter battles the Motor Fire in the Moss Creek area.

Sunday, Aug. 28, 2011 3:12 p.m. – The predictable up-canyon winds in the Merced River Canyon pushed the Motor Fire into the Moss Creek drainage, apparently delaying a planned back fire by the US Forest Service on the ridge above the NPS warehouse.

Earlier reports indicated that Old El Portal would be evacuated, around 1 p.m., with the back fire planned for 2 p.m. Irratic winds pushed the fire into the Moss Creek drainage where an aggressive air attack commenced.

Officials in El Portal say that the south end of the fire, the area that threatened to get into the south fork of the Merced River drainage, thereby endangering Hites Cove, Mariposa Pines, and Jerseydale residents, has been secured.

A Type I helicopter tries to stop the advance of the fire.

A Type I helicopter tries to stop the advance of the fire.

Look for further updates as they are available, which is rarely from the Forest Service.


The up-canyon winds push the blaze through the Moss Creek drainage.

The up-canyon winds push the blaze through the Moss Creek drainage.

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