Dog Rock Fire Update: At 310 Acres, 20 Percent Contained

DOG ROCK FIRE UPDATES:

National Park Service

Yosemite National Park Facebook Page

Yubanet

CalFire News Release

Mariposa County Sheriff

7:38 A.M.  It appears that firefighters have lost some ground overnight against the Dog Rock Fire in Yosemite National Park.

Last night, the fire was 280 acres and 25 percent contained. Friday morning, the U.S. Forest Service says it's grown slightly - to about 310 acres - but it's now just 20 percent contained.

The Highway 140 entrance into Yosemite remains closed. Park visitors should use Highways 120 or 41 instead. The lone evacuation of a vacation home community has been lifted for residents.

Investigators say the fire appears to have been caused by sparks from a vehicle.

An air tanker pilot died in a crash en route to the fire earlier this week.

-Ben Adler / Capital Public Radio

7 A.M. The Dog Rock fire in Yosemite that led to the death of a Cal Fire air tanker pilot is 280 acres and 25 percent contained.

The Highway 140 entrance into the park is still closed, but firefighters have made enough progress for authorities to lift the evacuation order on the small vacation home community of Foresta.

Meanwhile, investigators say they've determined the cause of the fire. 

Yosemite National Park officials say sparks from a vehicle caused the fire Tuesday afternoon.

Fire investigators say hot metal fragments caused sparks that ignited the forest, gone dry in the drought.

They've not determined what type of vehicle might have been involved or what may actually have caused the sparks. They say a trailer safety chain dragging on pavement could have done it or metal brake parts rubbing against each other could have been the source.