Harlow Fire

The Harlow Fire was a large wildfire in Central California's Mariposa and Madera counties in mid-July, 1961. The fire ignited on July 10 and burned rapidly, spreading to 43,329 acres before it was fully surrounded by containment lines on July 13 and fully controlled on July 15. During those six days the Harlow Fire destroyed 106 buildings, devastating the rural communities of Ahwahnee and Nipinnawasee in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada to the west of Yosemite National Park and the Sierra National Forest. Two residents of Ahwahnee were killed while fleeing the fire in their car.