Mandatory evacuation order issued for Wawona | Sacramento Bee

A mandatory evacuation order is in effect for the community of Wawona as the South Fork Fire in southern Yosemite National Park grew slightly to 2,903 acres Friday into Saturday, the park service said.

All areas east of Highway 41 along Chilnualna Falls Road and Forest Drive, including the Big Trees Lodge (formerly the Wawona Hotel), were told to evacuate by 4 p.m., the Yosemite National Park Service said. A Red Cross Shelter is set up at Tenaya Lodge in Fish Camp.

Wawona, which has a population from 1,000 to 2,000 at any given time, is about one and a half miles from the fire. It began Sunday and is now 10 percent contained.

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Spot fires popped up Friday and the fire grew because of downdraft winds from thunderstorms, the park service said. Full containment is not expected until Sept. 3.

The air quality index in Wawona is “very unhealthy” and will jump to “hazardous” in the early afternoon hours, according to the U.S. Forest Service. Air specialists were scheduled to answer questions about the effects of the bad air quality on residents at a community meeting at Tenaya Lodge at 6 p.m. Saturday. The meeting had been scheduled at the Wawona Community Center but was changed because of the evacuation, the park service said.

For now, the area east of Highway 41 on Forest Drive and Chilnualna Falls Road remains closed. The fire continues to threaten the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, U.S. Forest Service lands and a radio and telecommunications site at Wawona Point.

A small animal shelter has been set up at the old volunteer fire station in Fish Camp at 7724 Summit Road, the Central California Animal Disaster Team said Saturday. For more information, text the CCADT at 559-433-9663.

Thirteen hand crews, seven helicopters, 11 engines and three air tankers are fighting the fire, along with 528 personnel.

A tow truck driver working at the Chevron gas station in Wawona said the town was already looking empty as of noon Saturday. The man, who would not give his name, said he wasn’t leaving because basic services are exempt from evacuations. “It’s cleaned out,” he said. “Pretty quiet.”

For live fire updates, call 209-379-5322 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily or email SouthForkFireInfo@gmail.com.

This story was originally published August 19, 2017 12:12 PM.