Fire Management

Fire in Yosemite has many faces. It is a phenomenon that is both fascinating and dangerous, instilling fear in some people while inspiring others. In Yosemite, the park's staff manages fire carefully and continues to study how it interacts with the park’s ecosystems.

Yosemite has an extensive fire history. For over 4,000 years, American Indians frequently used fire in this area to shape the landscape to their uses. In historic times, fire was often seen as a negative force, but years ago scientists realized that fire is an integral part of forest ecosystems—and has been for millions of years. Yosemite's fire management program is designed to balance the protection of life, property, and natural and cultural resources with the continuation of fire as a natural process. Due to decades of fire suppression (actively putting out any fire that starts), forests have become overgrown and unhealthy. Naturally occurring fires allow forests to be thinned, opening the canopy and allowing sunlight through, while reducing the hazardous accumulation of dead, woody debris. Fire also allows for the recycling of nutrients to the soil, which encourages the germination and regrowth of plants, shrubs and trees.

Despite these ecological benefits, fire managers must also consider other park resources. In this interest, the park will immediately suppress any fire that poses a threat to people or property, or any that are human-caused.

 
Current Fire Information
Current Fire Information

As needed, we'll post updates and information about fires in Yosemite.

Managing Fire and Fuels
Managing Fire and Fuels

Yosemite uses a variety of tools to manage fire in the park; prescribed fire, wildfire, and mechanical thinning.

Smoke Management and Air Quality
Smoke Management and Air Quality

When visiting Yosemite, it is possible to see fire and smoke at any time of the year.

Fire Ecology and Monitoring
Fire Ecology and Monitoring

Yosemite's fire effects monitoring program studies the effects of fire and mechanical thinning on vegetation and fuels.

Fire History
Fire History

In Yosemite, fire records date back to 1930; therefore, Yosemite fire managers have extensive records on fire and suppression activities.

Aviation Management
Aviation Management

The Yosemite Aviation Program supports fire management, search and rescue, medical evacuations, and law enforcement.

Fire and Cultural Resources
Fire and Cultural Resources

Have you ever stood in the middle of a forest, or near an old historic building and wondered about the past?

Fire Videos
Fire Videos

Check out our video productions about fire in Yosemite.

 

Managing Fire

Fire managers use three tools to mimic fire's natural function in the ecosystem: prescribed fire, mechanical thinning, and wildfire. While visiting Yosemite, you may see evidence of any of these practices.

Prescribed fires are ignited by qualified park fire staff under certain pre-determined conditions. These fires are carefully managed to achieve goals such as public safety (by protecting developed areas) and ecosystem restoration (by clearing unsafe accumulation of dead and down wood).

Mechanical thinning removes smaller trees and brush with tools such as chainsaws. You may see these brush piles while visiting Yosemite. Mechanical thinning helps provide community protection from unwanted wildland fire, and it helps provide safer conditions for firefighters.

Wildfires are caused by lightning and often allowed to burn naturally in certain park wilderness areas under specific conditions, and with close surveillance by park fire staff. These fires are managed in order to fulfill their natural role as an agent of change in the ecosystem. If it is not prudent to allow fires to burn due to nearby infrastructure, weather conditions, or resource availability, park staff will suppress them.

"...we can't cut our way out of the problem. We can't burn our way out. We can't simply suppress. And we can't walk away. But maybe, we can cut a little, burn a little, suppress a little, and sometimes just back off from a fire that we can't hope to stop. The process will take decades, not years, but taken together, a lot of small steps could make a big difference." —Author Stephen J. Pyne

Yosemite Observer Dashboard: Fire

 

Visual, interactive information about current weather, stream flow, fires, and air quality conditions; all on one site! 

Last updated: August 21, 2023

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