Hardwear Sessions

In California's tinder-dry environment, even the smallest spark can ignite a wildfire.

Fire fighters blame target shooting for the Telegraph Fire, an intense wildfire burning just west of Yosemite National Park. (See a map of the fire, courtesy of the Firefighter Blog.)

The fire started on Friday afternoon (July 25, 2008), near the junction of Telegraph and Sherlock roads, and quickly spiraled out of control. The fire jumped quickly from 1,000 acres to 16,000 acres. As of Monday morning, the fire has spread to cover 26,000 acres. Residents of Midpines and Mariposa received evacuation orders. Authorities cut the electrical power to Yosemite National Park. The Park remains open, running on generator power.

The Telegraph fire joined with a second fire (the Mt. Bullion fire). Cal Fire deployed 268 fire engines, 12 airtankers, and 12 helicopters. Blackhawk aircrews were called in to help work the steep, treacherous terrain. According to the Modesto Bee, 2,000 firefighters, some "from as far away as San Diego," were called into Mariposa County.

The Telegraph fire burns hot and furious, due to the dense, brushy terrain (filled with oily chaparral plants like manzanita) and the heavy fuel load (the area hasn't burned in over a century). Residents describe the fire as akin to an atom bomb. Thick, mushroom shaped clouds loom over the foothills, while white-hot flames lick the sky. Ash and soot have drifted as far west as the cities Fresno and Modesto.

Firefighters anticipate a difficult battle. The Merced River Canyon is a rocky, narrow river canyon, complicated and difficult to navigate. As of Monday morning, only 10% of the fire has been contained. Dry, hot, windy conditions, coupled with a high fuel load, present fire crews with significant challenges.