News Release

Valley Prescribed Burns, Week of June 18, 2023

Date: June 20, 2023

Yosemite Fire has postponed the planned prescribed burn in the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias. Originally scheduled to begin this evening, this burn has been postponed until Fall 2023.

Yosemite Valley prescribed burns and pile burning will continue this week, starting Wednesday evening along Southside Drive in Sentinel Meadow, just west of the Yosemite Chapel. Ignitions will begin tomorrow evening and Thursday morning, with fire operations continuing through Friday.

Southside Drive will remain open with brief single-lane closure along the burn area for fire personnel safety. 

A portion of the Valley Loop Trail will close, from the Four Mile Trailhead intersection to the bike path intersection behind the Yosemite Chapel.

Prescribed fire reduces hazardous vegetation build-up, encourages black oak regeneration, expands meadowlands, improves wildlife habitat, and enhances cultural landscapes.

Smoke will be visible in some parts of the Valley during and after burning operations. Air quality information can be found online at https://fire.airnow.gov/