Fire Update, October 23, 2020

October 23, 2020 Posted by: Yosemite Fire Information

There are multiple fires burning in Yosemite National Park. Each fire is burning in fire adapted ecosystems in Wilderness. There are trail closures in effect. All fires may be visible from Tioga Road (Highway 120 through Yosemite National Park), Glacier Point, and high country vistas. Overall, smoke production is minimal, with small light columns rising around 500 feet high from the ground. Smoke is settling locally at night, rising in the morning, and dispersing to the northeast in the early afternoon. Park managers are working with the local air quality districts to monitor smoke impacts in the park and local communities. Smoke from ongoing regional fires continues to impact the area. Please heed all signed trail closures and follow all traffic controls in areas you will be visiting.

Blue Jay Fire

Location:  Yosemite Creek drainage south of the 10 Lakes trail at 9,000 feet elevation.
Discovery Date: July 24, 2020
Size: 6,840 acres                                            
Containment: 50%                                        
Strategy:
Confine and Contain                             
Cause: Lightning

Activity is low. Primary activity is on the northern flank adjacent to the Yosemite Creek Drainage, northeast of Lukens Lake, and in unburned pockets inside the perimeter.  Fire is smoldering and backing through ground litter and pockets of accumulated dead and down logs, with some isolated single tree torching.  Weather conditions may create potential for increased fire behavior.  There may be impacts to Tioga Road (Highway 120 through Yosemite National Park).  For park road information call 209-372-0200 Press 1 then 1. There are trail closures in effect.  Check this website for current trail closures: https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/conditions.htm
inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6888/

Wolf Fire

Location: North of White Wolf Campground and west of Lukens Lake Trail at 9,000 feet elevation.
Discovery Date: August 11, 2020                    
Size:
1,935 acres                                            
Containment: 40%                                        
Strategy:
Confine and Contain                             
Cause: Lightning

The fire has shown minimal growth and low activity.  Primary activity is on the southeast corner, and less activity is along the Middle Tuolumne drainage and the southwest flank.  The fire is smoldering in dense pockets of vegetation and accumulated dead and down logs, and backing and creeping along the forest floor with some isolated single tree torching.  Weather conditions may create potential for increased fire behavior.  Darker brown smoke may be visible rising around 1,500 feet above the ground and dispersing northeast.  There is no apparent threat to White Wolf at this time. 
inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7134/

North Whizz Dome Fire

Location: South of Cathedral Creek and 1 mile northwest of Tioga Road at 8,400 feet elevation.
Discovery Date: August 27, 2020                    
Size:
200 acres                                               
Containment: 0%                                          
Strategy:
Monitor                      
Cause: Lightning

The fire has shown minimal activity with a 20% active perimeter.  Primary activity is on the west and east perimeters. The fire is smoldering and creeping through ground litter and in pockets of accumulated dead and down logs, with isolated single tree torching.  Fire personnel will continue to monitor fire behavior and growth.  Smoke may be visible from Tioga Road.
inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7135/

Horse Fire

Location: Horse Ridge, 1 mile southeast of Ostrander Lake at 9,500 feet elevation.
Discovery Date: August 24, 2020                    
Size:
30 acres                                                 
Containment: 60%                                        
Strategy:
Monitor                      
Cause: Lightning

The fire has shown minimal growth with a 15% active perimeter.  Activity is low, with minimal smoldering pockets of compact high elevation fuels in rocky terrain within the perimeter.  There are no threats to trails or infrastructure. Fire personnel will continue to monitor fire behavior and growth.
https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7149/

Last updated: October 23, 2020

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