Yosemite Fire Information and Updates
About This BlogDuring the summer, we'll post updates and information about fires in Yosemite. This will include information about planned prescribed burns as well as natural fires ignited each year by lightning. Forbidden Fire Update
June 11, 2013
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This lightning caused fire is approximately 32 acres. A single tree was struck by lightning on May 21, 2013. The fire is west of the Eagle Peak Meadow and Creek, a tributary of Yosemite Creek, and is north of Eagle Peak, on the north rim of Yosemite Valley. It is smoldering through surface fuels and duff in a red fir forest. Parts of the fire have been observed with 6-12 inch flame lengths, and there have been some torching of trees. Prescribed Fire Upcoming in Yosemite National ParkYosemite National Park Fire Managers are planning a prescribed fire in Yosemite Valley in the Taft Toe Area. The burn will start on, or around, June 18, 2013, and is dependent on weather conditions. New Yosemite Fire (Forbidden Fire)The fire is west of the Eagle Peak Meadow and Creek, a tributary of Yosemite Creek, and north of Eagle Peak, on the north rim of Yosemite Valley. The fire is approximately at five acres, and smoldering through surface fuels and duff in a red fir forest. Wawona Northwest Prescribed Fire Update for April 25, 2013Fire crews are continuing mop-up operations along the fire perimeter. Areas with more moisture, deep needles, and large logs produce more smoke for longer. Wawona Northwest Prescribed Fire UpdateYosemite National Park firefighters conducted two days of ignition operations and completed the 150 acre Wawona Northwest Segment B Prescribed Fire Monday evening, April 22. Firefighters have begun mop-up activities to secure the fire perimeter. Those actions may include burning out of interior islands and pockets of unburned fuel that could flare up and threaten existing fire perimeter lines. Active burn down will last 1 – 2 weeks. Community members and visitors will continue to observe crews from various federal and state agencies conducting mop-up operations. Wawona Northwest Prescribed FireYosemite National Park fire managers began burning the 150 acre Wawona Northwest Segment B Prescribed Fire on April 21, 2013. A test burn was started and conditions were favorable to continue the prescribed fire project. Ignition will take 2 – 4 days and active burn down will last 1 – 2 weeks. Wawona Prescribed Fire Postponed in Yosemite National ParkYosemite National Park Fire Managers have rescheduled a prescribed burn in the Wawona area for Monday, April 15, 2013. The burn, originally scheduled for the beginning of April, was postponed because of wet conditions. Ignition of the burn is dependent on weather and moisture levels. Prescribed Fire Near Wawona Postponed Another WeekDue to continued rain and snow, the Wawona Northwest Prescribed Fire in Yosemite National Park has been postponed for another week. It is now scheduled to begin on Tuesday, April 16, but the date could change again if the forecasted drying trend is delayed. Wawona Northwest Prescribed Fire PostponedDue to recent rainfall, the Wawona Northwest Prescribed Fire in Yosemite National Park has been rescheduled and will now tentatively begin next week on Tuesday, April 9. Wawona Northwest Prescribed Fire Scheduled for Early AprilYosemite National Park fire managers are tentatively planning to begin burning the 150 acre Wawona Northwest Segment B Prescribed Fire on April 4, 2013. However, this date may change due to weather conditions. Ignition will take 2 – 4 days and active burn down will last 1 – 2 weeks. Pile BurningPending the predicted rain and possible snow storms on Wednesday, November 28, fire managers will resume pile burning within the communities of El Portal and Foresta. The storms will provide an opportunity to burn piles built this year by Yosemite and CAL Fire crews. The planned burning are a part of ongoing projects aimed at community fire protection and defensible space. Yosemite Fires (Update #12)
October 26, 2012
The Cascade Fire is at 1705 acres, based on a reconnaissance flight by Helicopter 551 on October 17, 2012. Although the fire area received rain and snow during the early part of this week (October 22), the fire has not been declared out. Hetch Hetchy and Foresta area Mechanical Thinning Hazardous Fuels Reduction ProjectsYosemite Fire Crew 6 and 7 will begin mechanical thinning project work in Hetch Hetchy and Foresta areas. They are cutting, piling and mechanically thinning dense vegetation including shade tolerant conifers such as incense cedar, white fir and ponderosa pine. They are also clearing accumulated dead biomass on the forest floor like sticks and logs. Yosemite Fires (Update #11)The Cascade fire continues to show low to moderate fire activity. After recent ground and helicopter observations, the fire is at approximately 1,683acres. Yosemite Fires (Update #10)
September 23, 2012
The Cascade Fire continues to show low to moderate fire activity. After recent ground and helicopter observations, the fire is at 1350 acres. Yosemite Fire (Update #9)
September 12, 2012
Cascade: (37 46.173 x 119 40.519; 7800’El., Mariposa Co., 6.15.12) The fire continues to show low to moderate fire activity. After recent ground observations, the fire is at 1210 acres. Yosemite Fires (Update #8)
September 06, 2012
Cascade: (37 46.173 x 119 40.519; 7800’El., Mariposa Co., 6.15.12) The fire continues to show low to moderate fire activity. After recent ground observations, the fire is at 1113 acres. Approximately 30 to 40 percent of the perimeter is active on the west flank. Most of the fire is creeping and smoldering in light brush and compact needle cast from the red fir forest. The fire will continue to be monitored. Air quality has remained in the good range. Yosemite Fires (Update #7)
August 28, 2012
The fire continues to show low to moderate fire activity. After recent ground observations, the fire is at 780 acres. All other listed lightning ignited fires are in patrol status. Yosemite Fires (Update #7)Cascade: (37 46.173 x 119 40.519; 7800’El., Mariposa Co., 6.15.12) The fire continues to show low to moderate fire activity. After recent ground observations, the fire is at 780 acres. The most active part of the perimeter were on the north and northwest flanks. Most of the fire is creeping and smoldering in light brush and compact needle cast from the red fir forest. Yosemite Fires (Update #6)The Cascade Fire continues to show low fire activity, slow spread, and light smoke production. Yosemite Fires (Update #5)Over the course of the past week, Yosemite experienced thunderstorms, with some park locations receiving measurable, sub- tropical moisture with the monsoonal air flow. The park helicopter will continue reconnaissance flights and all new fires found will be put out. Learn more about all new fires found following these thunderstorms. Yosemite Fires (Update #4)The Cascade Fire is now at 518 acres. Fifty percent of the fire perimeter is active, primarily in the northwest portion of the fire, through broken terrain of granite. Of the 518 acres, a good portion is rock and decomposed granite, wet meadows, and ponds. Yosemite Fires (Update #3)Cascade Fire: This lightning caused fire has been slowly burning since June 16, in Yosemite’s high elevation Wilderness. The fire has grown to 182 acres. Yosemite Fires (Update #2)
July 26, 2012
Cascade Fire: This lightning caused fire has been slowly burning since June 16, in Yosemite’s high elevation Wilderness. It started during an afternoon thunderstorm on June 15th. The fire has grown to 109 acres. It is burning in a short needle red fir forest between two upper forks of the Cascade Creek. The fire has slowly smoldered through sparse surface fuels of duff, forest litter and occasionally creating enough heat to ignite brush. Yosemite Fires (Update #1)
July 12, 2012
Cascade Fire: This lightning caused fire has been slowly burning since June 16, in Yosemite’s high elevation Wilderness. It started during an afternoon thunderstorm on June 15th. The fire is at approximately 33 acres, and is burning in short needle red fir forest between two upper forks of the Cascade Creek. Hodgdon Meadow Prescribed Burn - UpdateFirefighters completed the 234 acre Hodgdon Meadow prescribed fire at 11:30 am on Thursday, June 21. The prescribed fire remains in patrol status, with fire crews continuing to lightly mop-up along the fire perimeter of the 234 acre project. |
Did You Know?
In Wawona and downstream, the South Fork Merced River provides habitat for a rare plant, the Sierra sweet bay (Myrica hartwegii). This special status shrub is found in only five Sierra Nevada counties. In Yosemite, it occurs exclusively on sand bars and river banks along the South Fork Merced River downstream from Wawona and on Big Creek.