Pinecrest, CA…The Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office, California Highway Patrol, California Department of Transportation and the Stanislaus National Forest plan to open Highway 108 to through traffic only on Sunday August 19th at 4pm. Vehicles are prohibited from stopping or deviating from the highway between Eagle Meadow Road and Kennedy Meadow Road (Forest Service Road 6N01). The road to Kennedy Meadows and the resort will be open. Sheriff Deputies and CHP Officers will be patrolling the highway to protect property still under mandatory evacuation. Clark Fork Road, all campgrounds, Forest Service Roads, Organization Camps, Recreation Residence tracts and Dardanelle Resort will remain closed in this area. The Forest Closure Orders also remain in effect, including Forest Service Road 5N01 (Eagle Meadow Road), the Pacific Crest Trail and the general forest in the fire area. The Sheriff’s Office has modified the August 4th Evacuation Order to be consistent with this update (east from Eagle Meadow Road to the Kennedy Meadows Road).

Crews have mitigated hazard trees along Highway 108 where the Donnell Fire burned through last week. Re-opening the highway has been a priority since it was closed, but public and firefighter safety remain the first priority.
The Donnell Fire is only 42 percent contained.

The public should remember to drive defensively while moving through this area. Expect the unexpected around every curve. Keep speed at or below the posted speed limit. Be extra careful around fire equipment and firefighters working along the roadside.