There are multiple fires burning in Yosemite National Park's wilderness smoke may be visible over the next couple of days due to a high pressure system which brings higher temperatures and lower relative humidy.
South Fork
Discovered: 8/13/17
Location: N 37°32 '15" x W 119° 35'54"
Size: 5,191 acres
Cause: Unknown
Fuels: Ponderosa Pine/White Fir
Strategy: Suppression
County: Mariposa
The fire is burning in the wilderness but is being managed for protection objectives due to its close proximity to the community of Wawona. Crews will continue to mop up (extinguish hot spots on the fire’s edge) and monitor the perimeter of the fire. Aircraft will assist in securing the line as needed. Fire is burning in dense mixed conifer forest with areas of heavy tree mortality. Smoke is expected to be heavy in the area and adjacent communities. Multiple trail closures exist around the fire perimeter and are signed with the exact location.
Empire
Discovered: 8/1/17
Location: N 37° 38.673' x W 119° 37.096' at roughly 7300 feet elevation
Size: 2,770 acres
Cause: Lightning
Spread Potential: Moderate
Fuels: Red fir
Strategy: Monitor
County: Mariposa
The Empire Fire is burning in wilderness and poses no current threat to park infrastructure. This fire is being managed for protection and resource management objectives as allowed in Yosemite's Fire Management Plan. The fire has burned close to Bridalveil Campground but is held up at natural barriers and patrolled by crews. It is not visible from the campground and poses no threat to campground visitors or infrastructure. The fire is burning in red fir and dead and down timber which reduces fuels buildup and increases forest resiliency.
Trails are closed from Bridalveil Creek Campground to the second junction with the Ostrander trail and from Westfall Meadow to the Deer Camp junction, along Alder Creek. Ostrander trail is closed and the trail along Turner Meadow.
Starr King
Discovered: 8/2/17
Location: N 37° 42.965' x W 119° 29.588' at approximately 7800 feet elevation
Size: 27.5 acres
Cause: Lightning
Spread Potential: Low/ Moderate
Fuels: Red fir/ Lodgepole
Strategy: Monitor
County: Mariposa
Activity has picked up and smoke will be visible from Glacier Point, Washburn Point, and Sentinel Dome.
Yosemite Creek
Discovered: 8/3/17
Location: N 37° 50.414' x W 119° 38.088' at approximately 7,970 feet elevation
Size: .75 acres
Cause: Lightning
Spread Potential: Low
Fuels: Red fir
Strategy: Monitor
County: Mariposa
Porcupine
Discovered: 8/2/17
Location: N 37° 49.336' x W 119° 34.720' at approximately 8154 feet elevation off Tioga road near Yosemite Creek Campground road, creeping and smoldering, burning in large logs which are creating smoke.
Size: 2.2 acres
Cause: Lightning
Spread Potential: Low
Fuels: Lodgepole/Red fir
Strategy: Monitor
County: Mariposa
Knob 91
Discovered: 8/4/17
Location 37° 52.185' x W 119° 35.217' at approximately 8980 feet elevation
Size: .39 acres
Cause: Lightning
Spread Potential: Low
Fuels: Timber litter
Strategy: Monitor
County: Mariposa
South Fork
Discovered: 8/13/17
Location: N 37°32 '15" x W 119° 35'54"
Size: 5,191 acres
Cause: Unknown
Fuels: Ponderosa Pine/White Fir
Strategy: Suppression
County: Mariposa
The fire is burning in the wilderness but is being managed for protection objectives due to its close proximity to the community of Wawona. Crews will continue to mop up (extinguish hot spots on the fire’s edge) and monitor the perimeter of the fire. Aircraft will assist in securing the line as needed. Fire is burning in dense mixed conifer forest with areas of heavy tree mortality. Smoke is expected to be heavy in the area and adjacent communities. Multiple trail closures exist around the fire perimeter and are signed with the exact location.
Empire
Discovered: 8/1/17
Location: N 37° 38.673' x W 119° 37.096' at roughly 7300 feet elevation
Size: 2,770 acres
Cause: Lightning
Spread Potential: Moderate
Fuels: Red fir
Strategy: Monitor
County: Mariposa
The Empire Fire is burning in wilderness and poses no current threat to park infrastructure. This fire is being managed for protection and resource management objectives as allowed in Yosemite's Fire Management Plan. The fire has burned close to Bridalveil Campground but is held up at natural barriers and patrolled by crews. It is not visible from the campground and poses no threat to campground visitors or infrastructure. The fire is burning in red fir and dead and down timber which reduces fuels buildup and increases forest resiliency.
Trails are closed from Bridalveil Creek Campground to the second junction with the Ostrander trail and from Westfall Meadow to the Deer Camp junction, along Alder Creek. Ostrander trail is closed and the trail along Turner Meadow.
Starr King
Discovered: 8/2/17
Location: N 37° 42.965' x W 119° 29.588' at approximately 7800 feet elevation
Size: 27.5 acres
Cause: Lightning
Spread Potential: Low/ Moderate
Fuels: Red fir/ Lodgepole
Strategy: Monitor
County: Mariposa
Activity has picked up and smoke will be visible from Glacier Point, Washburn Point, and Sentinel Dome.
Yosemite Creek
Discovered: 8/3/17
Location: N 37° 50.414' x W 119° 38.088' at approximately 7,970 feet elevation
Size: .75 acres
Cause: Lightning
Spread Potential: Low
Fuels: Red fir
Strategy: Monitor
County: Mariposa
Porcupine
Discovered: 8/2/17
Location: N 37° 49.336' x W 119° 34.720' at approximately 8154 feet elevation off Tioga road near Yosemite Creek Campground road, creeping and smoldering, burning in large logs which are creating smoke.
Size: 2.2 acres
Cause: Lightning
Spread Potential: Low
Fuels: Lodgepole/Red fir
Strategy: Monitor
County: Mariposa
Knob 91
Discovered: 8/4/17
Location 37° 52.185' x W 119° 35.217' at approximately 8980 feet elevation
Size: .39 acres
Cause: Lightning
Spread Potential: Low
Fuels: Timber litter
Strategy: Monitor
County: Mariposa
Below is the Central Sierra Smoke/AQ Outlook for Monday August 28th
For the most up to date information:
