Definitely a header building showing on the satellite.
http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/goes/west/wfo/hnx/h5-loop-vis.html
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I see it. But look at the smoke shield to the west!! Just went to the top of the hotel in Merced and it looks like an Arizona haboob coming at us. Can’t see crap!!
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Smoke layer is lowering and can’t get tankers into the area they wanted to use them.
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HAHA, I’ll have to remember that one! Could have used that to describe the smoke in north fork sunday morning.
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Fire is 200 to 500 feet from Sweetwater creek in Sections 5 and 30. It is less than 120 feet in section 8. The fire has squared up along the Snyder Ridge area and along the northern part of that community where the 3S06 road is.
The horseshoe of green just west of Incline has gotten down to the Highway 140.
Depending on how much of it is fingers and how much is “straight lines” of fire, there is between another 1200-1600 acres from this mornings map by my rough estimates. (only on the west side of the fire, not counting the updated info on the East side of the South Fork, which may also be another 1200 acres by itself)
Div H, the fire is still hung up on Pinoch ridge, does not appear to have moved much from the map I am looking at.
Have not heard from Div M about the east side of the fire in the South Fork where I expect there to be fire growth.
Edit, in Div M in the South Fork there was the growth I expected, all the way into section 9, pushing east. He didn’t say how much of section 8 and 9 had fire in them, but the night ops map didn’t show any fire in section 8 or 9, so it’s moved at least a mile in an easterly direction in the South Fork.
AA 51 is heading back to Lancaster for the evening. Will have to wait and see what the IR ship map looks like in the morning.
Additionally there is a National Guard ship up flying for “situational awareness”, not sure the type or mission of the aircraft. May be a dedicated night hoist rescue ship, because they mentioned NVG.
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17,319 acres per overnight analysis of infrared data, still at 5% Containment.
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This mornings map does not support all the statements that AA51 made last night, or I misheard.
The map does not show fire in section 8 or 9 of the South Fork. This would the confluence of Granite Creek with the South Fork. It is possible that AA51 misinterpreted his map or had false returns on the IR or the updated IR from last nights flight did not make it onto the map for day shift.
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From InciWeb: The fire was fairly quiet overnight, with activity picking up in the area around Sweetwater Creek shortly before dawn. The fire is now established in the bottom of Sweetwater Creek. Crews worked overnight on securing line around Cedar Lodge and Indian Flat. The power line has been completed, and power has been restored to the area. Work also continued on containment lines protecting the communities of Jerseydale/ Mariposa Pines and Yosemite West.
Today, crews will continue to monitor and mop up in the areas around Cedar Lodge, Indian Flat, and Cold Canyon. They will begin contingency line construction up Pinoche Ridge from the Merced River, improve dozer and handlines around Yosemite West and Jerseydale, and take suppression action to keep the fire East of Snyder Ridge. They will also use aerial resources to try to keep the fire on top of Ferguson Ridge when conditions permit.
Weather today is predicted to be hot and dry, and the smoke inversion is again expected to stay over the area until mid- to late- afternoon. Monsoonal moisture is expected to start pushing in from the South, and some thunderstorm buildup can be expected over the Sierra Crest by late afternoon. Thunderstorms can produce gusty, erratic winds, causing hazards for firefighters. 17,398 ac. 5% Total Personnel
1,850
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8 9 10 in the west Div M
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We’re here 
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Over 17K acres and 5% containment. More info on this mornings Inciweb report…
https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5927/
Ferguson Fire AM Update July 19, 2018
Ferguson Fire Wildfire
News – 37 min. ago
The fire showed moderate growth overnight. Crews worked late to strengthen line around Jerseydale, along Sweetwater Ridge, and to complete containment lines along Highway 140 at Cold Canyon. The fire continued to back West into Sweetwater Creek, North onto Ferguson Ridge, and north toward Highway 140. It backed toward Jerseydale, slowly consuming hazardous fuels. As of 6:00 A.M. on July 19, no structures have been damaged or destroyed by the Ferguson Fire.
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Evening update from Inciweb at 6:54 p.m… 21,541 Acres. 7% contained. More info on Inciweb…
https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5927/
An unusually heavy inversion stayed over the fire today keeping overall fire activity moderate despite thunderstorm development over the Sierra Crest. The inversion did lift briefly in the late afternoon allowing some columns to build, especially over Sweetwater Ridge and on the Southeastern corner of the fire.
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Today’s IAP?
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Morning update from Inciweb at 7:23 a.m. 22,892 Acres. 7% contained. More info on Inciweb…
https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5927/
The fire remained active overnight along SR 140, west of Pinoche Ridge, and on its southeastern corner (Granite Ridge.) Firing operations continued in 3 divisions to protect structures and secure fireline.
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Starting to build a column near Granite Ridge 
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