Thursday, July 26, 2018
CRISTIAN (l) and ALEX (r), both from Romania, chat while atop of Stoneman Bridge in Yosemite Valley. Both men are Aramark employees, a Yosemite National Park concessionaire, and they are on furlough while the Valley is closed to visitors due to the Ferguson Fire. Many park and concession employees and campground hosts remain in Yosemite Valley, California, during the closure. Yosemite Valley closed at noon yesterday to all visitors due to poor air quality, as well as for safety reasons. Firefighting personnel and equipment are traveling through the Valley, as well as roads adjacent to the park. The Ferguson Fire is burning near Yosemite's El Portal entrance.