Thunderstorms came through the park July 19 through 22. There are nine confirmed lightning-caused fires. Lightning-caused fires can take days or weeks to detect because vegetation has to dry out enough to create smoke or visible flames after the storm passes over. Additional fires may be discovered as temperatures rise and fuels dry out. Most of these fires are small: single-tree strikes that amount to less than a tenth of an acre. These fires are in the wilderness and are being monitored by either fire crews hiking into the fire areas or via air reconnaissance due to location, sparse fuels, and low growth potential. Yosemite and Point Reyes fire crews are monitoring all fires.
New fires:
Quartzite (37 43.871 x 119 25.200 - Mariposa Co., 8387 ft, 7/27). This fire was found by Helicopter 551 during a Search and Rescue flight. It is approximately 0.5 miles south of Merced Lake, mid-slope and on a north aspect. It is smoldering in mountain hemlock, western white pine and lodgepole pine. This fire is to be monitored.
Middle (37 51.538 x 119 41.194 - Tuolumne Co., 8000 ft. 7/27). This is a lightning hold over fire found by Point Reyes Engine 1160. It is west of White Wolf and south of the Middle Fork of Tuolumne River. It may be visible from Tioga Road.
Other fires:
Fork (37 46.242 x 119 25.198 – Mariposa Co., 8300 ft, 7/18). This is a lightning caused fire, and was reported by a hiker. It is a single tree, located on the east side of Cathedral Creek and north of the junction with Echo Creek.
Creek (37 49.604 x 119 35.131– Mariposa Co., 8000 ft, 7/22). This recent fire is near Yosemite Creek and the Tioga Road. It is a single tree strike and has low to moderate potential for growth.
Indian Canyon (37 47.532 x 119 35.148 - Mariposa Co. at 7200 ft, 7/ 3). This fire is between the Tioga Rd and the Yosemite Valley. It continues to slowly creep through ground pine and fir needles, and smolder in logs. Smoke has been light, and often visible from multiple locations within Yosemite. It is an area of few recent fires.
Dark (37 50.575 x 119 37.153 – Mariposa Co., 8200 ft, 7/ 9). This lightning caused fire is along the Yosemite Creek Campground Road and is periodically visible from the road. Two red fir trees were struck and the surface fuels were ignited. It is at 0.32 acre, and continues to creep and smolder through duff and fur needles.
Horse (37 37.3 x 119 34.1 – Mariposa Co., 8500 ft, 7/9). This high elevation fire is one single tree struck and smoking and is east of Ostrander Lake. It is 0 .1ac, is surrounded by granite and has low potential for growth.
Clark (37 41.0 x 119 29.6 – Mariposa Co., 7500 ft, 7/9). This is west of Clark Peak. A single tree was seen smoking and it is at 0.1 ac., with low growth potential.
McGurk (37 40.969 x 119 37.232 - Mariposa Co. at 7800f t, 7/2). This fire is within the McGurk Meadow, near a trail to Dewey Point from Glacier Point Road. It is at 0.2ac and has low potential for spread.
White Cascade (37 54.926 x 119 23.780 - Tuolumne Co, at 9000 ft, 7/3). This is a remote fire near Glen Aulin High Sierra camp, east of Conness Creek, and west of Tuolumne Meadows, and is at 0.50ac. It poses no threat to trails and has a low spread potential. Smoke may be visible from trails in the area.
Fires declared out: Polly 7/23; Morrison 7/23; Porcupine 7/23; and Blue Jay 7/21.
As with all fires, staff and visitor safety is of paramount importance. Each fire, regardless of size, is assessed for the appropriate course of action. At this time there are no road or trail closures and the park remains open. Smoke is staying local over the fires and has not been observed traveling to any smoke sensitive areas.
