Yosemite National Park Begins Pile Burning 

Date: October 21, 2010

Yosemite National Park will start debris pile burning tomorrow, October 22, 2010. Pile burning locations will include Tamarack Flat Campground, Crane Flat Campground, the communities of Foresta, El Portal, and Wawona, and along portions of the Wawona Road.

Piles of debris are typically burned during the spring and fall when the weather conditions are cooler and there is a higher amount of precipitation. Burn piles generally consist of down and dead forest material, such as tree limbs, logs, and brush. A maximum of 200 piles may be burned in one day.

Pile burning is beneficial for clearing forest undergrowth and reducing fuels. It provides an opportunity to clear the roadways from overhanging vegetation thereby creating a safer environment for motorists, as well as allowing the sun to reach the road which in turn helps the winter ice melt faster.

Temperatures over the next few weeks will remain cool, with sporadic rain predicted. Campgrounds in which burning will take place have been previously closed due to the upcoming winter season. Visitors and the surrounding communities should expect minimal smoke due to the pile burning in the Yosemite area.

For more information on fire in Yosemite National Park, please visit: http://www.nps.gov/yose/parkmgmt/firemanagement.htm