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Yosemite West is a small community just
outside of Yosemite National Park. It has only one road into
it and multiple absentee residents (or those who only come
for summer vacation). It is also at extreme risk of a catastrophic
fire: a densely forested area with fuel accumulations due
to fire suppression and at the top of a ridge in an area that
has lightening strikes. In 1990, the Steamboat Fire narrowly
missed the community,) while the A-Rock fire which was burning
simultaneously did devastate the nearby community of Foresta.
The emphasis placed by the National Fire
Plan on the protection of wildland urban interface communities
brought new attention on the risk wildland fire poses to Yosemite
West. Thanks to concerned residents and a partnership with
Yosemite National Park, Mariposa County, the Sierra National
Forest, and Wildland Fire Associates, steps are being taken
that will help Yosemite West residents reduce the risk of
wildland fire in their community.
Residents are working to become a FireSafe
community including following fire clearance guidelines around
their homes. Yosemite National Park has started mechanical
thinning and prescribed burning projects on their boundary
with Yosemite West to create a shaded fuel break and to reduce
woody debris that would contribute to a wildland fire. Wildland
Fire Associates has devised a fuel management strategy for
Yosemite West to significantly decrease the risk of wildland
fire. Community members are in the process of writing grants
to get federal monies to begin fuel reduction in the town.
There are still obstacles to be overcome.
Many absentee landowners have not followed fire clearance
guidelines. There is not a fire station in Yosemite West.
That means that the response time for structure and wildland
fire reduces their options for grant monies. Agreements with
federal agencies to work on or near private lands need to
be drawn up.
However, the partnership to protect Yosemite
West from wildland fire has shown the benefits that occur
when parties involve recognize the need and work together
to find solutions.
Contact: Deb Schweizer, Fire Education
Specialist
Phone: (209) 372-0480 |
