There are multiple fires burning in Yosemite National Park's wilderness. Wildfires when caused by lightning are a natural phenomenon on the landscape. While hiking trails and sitting at vistas you may see smoke in some of these areas.
Stage 2 Fire Restrictions are currently in place inside Yosemite National Park. Please review the details for Stage 2 Fire Restrictions, which will remain in place until further notice.
Unicorn Fire
- Discovery Date: 7/28/18
- Location: Unicorn Peak Area, in Yosemite's Wilderness
- Size: 2.6 acres
- Status: Active
- Strategy: Occasional patrol with very low spread.
- Comments: Lightning strike start at 9500 feet in elevation. Smoke may be visible from Tuolumne meadows.
Rancheria Fire
- Discovery Date: 9/8/18
- Location: North end of Rancheria Mountain, in Yosemite's Wilderness
- Size: 3.5 acres
- Status: Active
- Strategy: Early planning phase, planned action to insert crew for detailed assessment.
- Comments: Lightning caused
Indian Fire
- Discovery Date: 9/4/18
- Location: Near Porcupine Camp Ground, in Yosemite's Wilderness
- Size: .12 acre
- Status: Active
- Strategy: Monitor
- Comments: Lightning caused. Smoke will be visible from Tioga Pass road and Porcupine Campground. This fire is being managed for resource objectives. It will produce more smoke as it burns into heavy pockets of dense vegetation and dead and down material.
Chain Lakes Fire
- Discovery Date: 9/9/18
- Location: Near Chain Lakes, in Yosemite's Wilderness
- Size: .1/4 acre
- Status: Active
- Strategy: Suppression tactics, crews will continue to mop up and monitor
- Comments: Human caused.
Merced Pass Fire
- Discovery Date: 8/6/18
- Location: Merced Pass, Wilderness, South East end of the park, 9000’
- Size: .1/4 acre
- Status: Active
- Strategy: Suppression
- Comments: Human caused, next to a trail.
Ferguson Fire
- Discovery Date: 7/13/18
- Size: 96,955 acres
- Status: 100 Percent Contained as of 8/19/2018
- Strategy: Suppression
- Comments: Cause unknown, under investigation. The Ferguson Fire is 100 percent contained. This fire is being managed by Sierra National Forest (https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/inci
dent/5927/). There continues to be smoke visible inside fire control lines. Smoke will continue to be visible into the winter season. Fire crews will not chase single small smokes interior of control lines due to extreme hazards associated with dead and fire-weakened trees. Crews continue to work on repairs inside the park from the Ferguson Fire. All visitors should avoid hiking or walking in recently burned areas due to danger from hidden hot spots and hazardous trees.
Additional Information
- Yosemite Fire and Aviation Facebook: @YosemiteFire
- Yosemite Fire and Aviation Twitter:@YosemiteFire
- Fire Informaiton: e-mail us
- For general park information: 209/372-0200