Firefighters moving headquarters to Merced as thousands flee wild fire in Mariposa

Firefighters battling an out-of-control wildfire threatening the city of Mariposa moved their headquarters to the Merced County Fairground in Merced on Tuesday.

Crews returning from 24-hour shifts will be staying at the fairgrounds on Martin Luther King Way in South Merced.

Some of the nearly 4,000 people fleeing homes and businesses in Mariposa are expected to come to Planada, Le Grand and Merced, city officials said in a news release.

Hundreds of firefighters from around the state are expected to camp in Merced during in shifts, authorities said.

Merced city crews closed G Street from Childs to 11th Street to make way for heavy traffic from firefighting and other vehicles heading towards the fairgrounds, authorities said.

“Merced County deputies are assisting with the evacuation of Mariposa residents,” officials said in the statement. “Merced County staff are also assisting with the evacuation of John C. Fremont Hospital in Mariposa.”

City officials in Merced initially reported the Mariposa jail also was evacuated, but later said that was not the case. City officials said Merced County was ready to assist, should that happen in the coming hours or days.

Merced residents are being asked to steer clear of Highway 140, the major route to the fire scene, unless necessary. They also are advised that there will be a large amount of vehicle and truck traffic around the fairgrounds while firefighting efforts are underway.

“We are offering any and all the assistance we can,” said Fire Chief Michael Wilkinson. “We have crews up fighting the fire and we have city staff down here helping out every way we can.”

City water crews are making sure the trucks are full. Merced’s Public Works Department organized truck routes through town for CalFire so firefighters could get up to the fire with the least disruptions to traffic and people.

“We wanted to make it easy for them to get in and out of the City, simply and safely,” said Public Works Director Ken Elwin. “They have lots of big trucks going through the city and we don’t want anyone getting into accidents.”

This story was originally published July 18, 2017 at 3:35 PM with the headline "Firefighters moving headquarters to Merced as thousands flee wild fire in Mariposa."