Yosemite Fire Update - August 21, 2020

August 21, 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: 185 acres
  • Containment: 10%
  • Strategy: Confine and Contain                       
  • Cause: Lightning   

Wolf Fire

  • Location: In the wilderness 1 mile north of White Wolf campground and 2 miles east of Lukens Lake trail at approximately 9,000 feet elevation.
  • Discovery Date: August 11, 2020
  • Size: 53 acres
  • Containment: 0%
  • Strategy: Confine and Contain                       
  • Cause: Lightning

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. National Park Service and Forest Service resources are committed to both fires and will continue to monitor fire weather behavior and growth.

The Blue Jay Fire has an 40% active perimeter and the Wolf Fire has a 45% active perimeter. Both fires are creeping and smoldering through ground litter on the forest floor with an overstory of lodgepole and red fir and burning in pockets of accumulated dead and down logs with some isolated single tree torching along the active perimeter. Smoke has been lifting and rising 300 feet above tree line and dispersing out to the north and northeast.

The environment both fires are burning is a fire adapted ecosystem.  There are currently no threats to infrastructure and all trails remain open. Both fires may be visible from Tioga Road, Glacier Point, and from high country vistas.

Park Managers are working with the local Air Quality Districts and will be monitoring smoke impacts to the park and local communities. Heavy smoke from regional wildfires in California is impacting the area further reducing visibility.

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

For Additional Information:

Last updated: August 21, 2020

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