As crews finally made progress against the Ferguson Fire, a new wildfire began burning far to the northeast along the Middle Fork Stanislaus River. Hot weather and sporadic winds blew the Donnell Fire upslope across Highway 108 and along the scenic corridor between Double Dome and the Bald Peak roadless area. Flames pushed southeast, burning the Dardanelles Resort and many cabins. Flames also spread into the Carson-Iceberg Wilderness. A week after it began, it had already grown to 19,000 acres.
In just that week, the Donnell Fire’s hot runs likely killed more large, old growth trees than logging projects have cut in our local forests in more than a decade. With so many other major fires competing for fire crews, the Donnell Fire may continue to burn for weeks or until fall rains finally arrive.