There are multiple fires burning in Yosemite National Park's wilderness Smoke will be present due to a high pressure system which brings higher temperatures and lower relative humidities. Thunderstorms are possible over the high country. Thunderstorms bring gusty winds and hazardous lightning.
South Fork
Discovered: 8/13/17
Location: N 37°32 '15" x W 119° 35'54"
Size: 5,724 acres
Cause: Unknown
Fuels: Ponderosa Pine/White Fir
Strategy: Suppression
County: Mariposa
The north flank of the fire was the most active yesterday as it burned into heavy pockets of fuel. The south and west flanks of the fire are contained, some smoke will be visible as logs and brush burn in the interior. Crews will continue to patrol and monitor the flanks closest to the community of Wawona and Mariposa Grove. Crews are continuing containment strategies on the north-west edge of the fire and to keep fire south and south-east of Chilnualna Creek. The north and east flank of the fire is continuing to burn in the wilderness, and will be monitored by aircraft due to inaccessible and steep terrain. As fire continues into the high country it will hit some pockets of heavy vegetation with little fire history but slow down with natural granite barriers and sparse vegetation which will limit smoke production. This high country wilderness area has few high values at risk.
Area and trail closures are in place follow posted closure orders and maps.
Empire
Discovered: 8/1/17
Location: N 37° 38.673' x W 119° 37.096' at roughly 7300 feet elevation, 1 mile east of Yosemite Ski and Snowboard Area and 3/4 mile south of Glacier Point Road
Size: 4,125 acres
Cause: Lightning
Spread Potential: Moderate
Fuels: Red fir
Strategy: Monitor
County: Mariposa
Due to a very dry air mass fire activity increased yesterday on the eastern flanks of the fire burning in heavy pockets of down and dead vegetation. The west and northwest flanks of the fire are contained and showed minimal activity. Fire crews are implementing a perimeter control strategy for the north, west, and southern flanks of the fire to protect Bridalveil Campground, Yosemite Ski and Snowboard Area, Yosemite West subdivision, Wawona Road (Highway 41), and Glacier Point road. Strategy for the east flank of the fire is to steer fire east deeper into the wilderness where there is sparse vegetation and natural granite barriers which will slow spread and limit smoke production. This high country wilderness area is very steep and rugged and has few high values at risk.
Fire management personnel is implementing this strategy on three sides of the fire to limit further smoke production in heavy fuels.
Area and trail closures are in place including: Glacier Point road, Bridalveil Campground, and multiple trail closures.
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: 5,724 acres
Cause: Unknown
Fuels: Ponderosa Pine/White Fir
Strategy: Suppression
County: Mariposa
The north flank of the fire was the most active yesterday as it burned into heavy pockets of fuel. The south and west flanks of the fire are contained, some smoke will be visible as logs and brush burn in the interior. Crews will continue to patrol and monitor the flanks closest to the community of Wawona and Mariposa Grove. Crews are continuing containment strategies on the north-west edge of the fire and to keep fire south and south-east of Chilnualna Creek. The north and east flank of the fire is continuing to burn in the wilderness, and will be monitored by aircraft due to inaccessible and steep terrain. As fire continues into the high country it will hit some pockets of heavy vegetation with little fire history but slow down with natural granite barriers and sparse vegetation which will limit smoke production. This high country wilderness area has few high values at risk.
Area and trail closures are in place follow posted closure orders and maps.
Empire
Discovered: 8/1/17
Location: N 37° 38.673' x W 119° 37.096' at roughly 7300 feet elevation, 1 mile east of Yosemite Ski and Snowboard Area and 3/4 mile south of Glacier Point Road
Size: 4,125 acres
Cause: Lightning
Spread Potential: Moderate
Fuels: Red fir
Strategy: Monitor
County: Mariposa
Due to a very dry air mass fire activity increased yesterday on the eastern flanks of the fire burning in heavy pockets of down and dead vegetation. The west and northwest flanks of the fire are contained and showed minimal activity. Fire crews are implementing a perimeter control strategy for the north, west, and southern flanks of the fire to protect Bridalveil Campground, Yosemite Ski and Snowboard Area, Yosemite West subdivision, Wawona Road (Highway 41), and Glacier Point road. Strategy for the east flank of the fire is to steer fire east deeper into the wilderness where there is sparse vegetation and natural granite barriers which will slow spread and limit smoke production. This high country wilderness area is very steep and rugged and has few high values at risk.
Fire management personnel is implementing this strategy on three sides of the fire to limit further smoke production in heavy fuels.
Area and trail closures are in place including: Glacier Point road, Bridalveil Campground, and multiple trail closures.
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 Tuesday August 29th:
