Yosemite Fire Update - August 17, 2020

August 17, 2020 Posted by: Yosemite Fire Information

Blue Jay Fire

  • Location: In the wilderness 4 miles south of White Wolf campground and 1 mile west of Lukens Lake trail at approximately 9,000 feet elevation.
  • Discovery Date: July 24, 2020                             
  • Size: 117 acres                                                                    
  • Containment: 0%                                                  
  • Strategy: Confine and Contain                          
  • Cause: Lightning    

 

Wolf Fire

  • Location: In the wilderness 1 mile south of White Wolf campground and 2 miles west of Lukens Lake trail at approximately 9,000 feet elevation.
  • Discovery Date: August 11, 2020                                  
  • Size: 2 acres                                                 
  • Containment: 0%                                                  
  • Strategy: Confine and Contain                          
  • Cause: Lightning

           
The Blue Jay Fire was ignited by lightning on July 24th. The Wolf Fire was ignited by lightning on August 11th.

The Blue Jay fire is currently not burning along any trails. The Wolf Fire is 150-200 yards from the Lukens Lake trail. The strategy for both fires is to confine and contain to a specific area, utilizing natural barriers for the fires to burn into, such as granite and bare ground. This minimizes fire suppression impacts in the wilderness and reduces exposure to firefighters in a remote area of the park where there are no trails or campgrounds. Firefighters will continue to monitor fire behavior. One Yosemite Wildfire Module (WFM) is committed to the Blue Jay Fire and various Yosemite fire  personnel are committed to the Wolf Fire.

Both fires are creeping and smoldering through ground litter on the forest floor and burning in pockets of accumulated dead and down logs with some isolated single tree torching along the active perimeter. Smoke production has been light to moderate depending on fuels. Smoke has been lifting and rising 300 feet above tree line and dispersing out to the east. The fires are expected to continue creeping and smoldering as each burn through timber litter with an overstory of lodgepole and red fir.

The environment both fires are burning in is a fire adapted ecosystem. There are currently no threats to infrastructure or access on maintained trails. Both fires may be visible from Tioga Road, Glacier Point, and from high country viewpoints.

Park Managers are working with the local Air Quality Districts and will be monitoring smoke impacts to the park and local communities.

For the most up-to-date fire information follow Inciweb inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6888/

 

Additional Information

Last updated: August 17, 2020

Park footer

Contact Info

Phone:

209/372-0200

Contact Us