Wawona News

WawonaNews.com - July 2022

Update on Wawona Lodging, Camping and Other Services

NPS - July 19 - Wawona Road (continuation of Highway 41 into Yosemite) between South Entrance and Yosemite Valley will tentatively reopen to visitors on Saturday, July 23, at 6 am. The Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias and the Wawona area will remain closed for at least another week. This closure includes all camping, lodging, vacation rentals, and other services (other than gas) in the Wawona area.

A reservation is required to drive into or through Yosemite between 6 am and 4 pm: https://go.nps.gov/reserve.
Wawona Road closed on July 8 due to the Washburn fire. The Washburn fire is currently 4,863 acres and 58% contained. Visit https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8209/ for more information about the fire.

Washburn Fire 58% Contained, Agua Fire 20% Contained
Very Little Overnight Growth, If Any, For Both Fires

Washburn Fire Update: InciWeb July 19 - 7 AM
Washburn fire behavior has diminished by successful suppression activities in most portions of the fire’s growth. Having burn scars from 2017’s South Fork Fire provides for a great barrier to help with suppression of the fire by having little to no fuels for the fire to consume. Temperatures will reach the low-90s and relative humidity is predicted to be in the 15-24% range.. Expect moderate smoke activity on the eastern edge due to the amount of fuels burning off from wind storm wreckage over the winter. Down drainage wind flow will provide smoke accumulation in valleys while higher elevations will remain relatively clear. The fire area contains large amounts of both live and dead trees, high mortality from the drought and associate beetle kill in 2015 and 2016, as well as significant blow-down from a Mono Wind event that occurred in January 2021. Mono winds are a a type of downslope wind caused by a particular geographic high and low pressure scenario.

Agua Fire Update: Cal Fire July 19 - 7 AM

Welcome Back BBQ at Pine Tree Market

July 18 - Hey there Wawona Friends! Please come to a welcome back potluck BBQ this Thursday at the Pine Tree Market starting around 6 PM. Rangers and fire staff will be there to answer questions. 50 burger patties have been donated by Harris Ranch Beef as a show of support for the community and first responders. Pine Tree will provide buns, condiments and a side dish. Feel free to bring something for a group but if not possible please come anyway - there will be good community and plenty of food to go around!

New Fire Near Mariposa

MyMotherLode.com - July 18
Update at 3:15 p.m.: An evacuation order has been given to the residents near Agua Fria road and an evacuation advisory has been put in place for the surrounding area. Click here for a fire evacuation map. The Red Cross Evacuation Center has been established at the New Life Christian Church located at 5089 Cold Rd

Original post at 2:22 p.m.:Mariposa, CA– Local air and ground resources are aggressively battling a vegetation fire that has started near Agua Fria Road and has been named the “Agua” incident. The fire originated because of a traffic accident and has grown to over 50 acres. No evacuations have been requested by law enforcement but Mariposa Sheriff Deputies have advised residents in the area that it could change. Currently, Highway 140 is closed in both directions at this time near Yaqui Gulch and Hummingbird lane. Authorities are requesting that people avoid the area.

Residents and Workers Allowed Into Wawona 24 Hours a Day

Wawona Road (continuation of Highway 41 into Yosemite) from the south boundary of the park to Yosemite West remains closed to the public until further notice. However, it will open 24 hours per day to people who reside or work in Yosemite or Yosemite West on July 18 at 6 am with no escorts. The community of Wawona remains closed except to Wawona residents and property owners .Check https://go.nps.gov/repop for details.

Residents, Owners OK to Return to Wawona

Residents and property owners may return to Wawona residences on Sunday, July 17, at 8 am. Residents, please read the frequently asked questions for important details: https://go.nps.gov/repop.

South Entrance, Wawona Campground, and non-NPS resident employees: check with your supervisor before returning.
Residents must show a photo ID and a proof of residency document. NPS seasonal residents only need a photo ID.
Checkpoint staff will have a list of seasonal residents. Escort is mandatory when entering and leaving via Wawona Road between South Entrance and Wawona and is only available from 8 am to 8 pm. Access between Yosemite West in Wawona is only available from 8 am to 8 pm, but without escorts.

Wawona remains closed to visitors until further notice

Yosemite Fire Restrictions

Hello Yosemite Fire Interest Group,
Due to high fire danger and enhanced risk to the public, employees, and first responders, Yosemite National Park is enacting park-wide fire restrictions below 8,000 feet elevation to reduce the threat of human-caused wildfires.
By order of the Superintendent of Yosemite National Park and under authority of Title 36, Code of Federal Regulations, Sections 34.5(b)(9) and 2.13(c):
As of 12:01 am on July 16, 2022, the following fire restrictions are in effect within Yosemite National Park and the El Portal Administrative Site:

• No building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire (including campfire, cooking fire, and charcoal fires) below 8,000 feet elevation except as noted below. Portable stoves using pressurized gas, liquid fuel, or propane are permitted, as are alcohol stoves, including tablet/cube stoves. Twig stoves are not permitted.
- Fires may be used in open front country campgrounds and open picnic areas in developed portions of the park in accordance with park regulations.

- Wood fires are prohibited in El Portal and Foresta due to increased fire danger in those communities; charcoal fires are permitted. Wood and charcoal fires are still permitted in all other residential areas in developed portions of the park in accordance with park regulations.

- Fires may be used above 8,000 feet elevation but not above 9,600 feet elevation in accordance with park regulations.

• No smoking below 8,000 feet elevation except within an enclosed vehicle, a campground or picnic area where fires are allowed, in a designated smoking area, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or has been cleared of all flammable material. Public buildings, public areas of concessioner and federal buildings (including restrooms), other areas as posted, and within 25 feet of any public building always remain closed to smoking.

When recreating, be sure to follow all fire rules and regulations. Help prevent human caused fires by ensuring your campfire is out cold using the "drown, stir, and feel method."

Sign up for emergency alerts at: https://go.nps.gov/alert   
For current Washburn fire information and updates visit:https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8209/

History of Fires Now Surrounds Wawona

Click on image to see a larger version

Wawona Residents and Homewoners "Likely" to Be Allowed to Return on Sunday: More Details on Saturday

To view a recording of this presentation, click on the arrow and then fast forward to minute 7:00. Details about repopulation of Wawona starting at minute 43:30

Click on the image to see an updated live view of Wawona

Air Quality In Wawona

Click on image to see an updated measurement of air quality in Wawona

Message From Wawona District Rangers Heidi Edgecomb & Chad Andrews

Hello Wawona community,

Chad and I wanted to provide you an update. Please forward this to any community members who are not listed, and distribute to whomever you normally do. Thank you for sharing the message.

Closures
Wawona remains evacuated. This includes any and all residents and employees. Wawona Road remains closed from Yosemite West to the southern park boundary. Mount Raymond Road to Goat Meadow is also closed. Please do not attempt to access the area. There have been firing operations along the road and there are still some small issues with spotting between Wawona and the South Entrance. There are many burning and damaged trees which poses a safety issue to anyone traveling along the road and there are numerous fire crews and vehicles along the road as well. We know how difficult this is for commuters. We apologize for the inconvenience, but there is nothing we can do to speed that along. We will get the road back in use as soon as it is safe to do so. Crews are working 24 hours a day on this process.

Where to Get Accurate Info

Please ensure you are signed up for Everbridge Alerts. This will be how we notify you of community meetings, re-population and other similar info. Sign up here: https://member.everbridge.net/453003085619123/new

I will reiterate our message from Saturday: We know it is difficult to be away and see dozens of scary photos and posts on social media. The area this fire is burning has little-to-no fire history, so there is very heavy fuel in much of the area which adds to the amount of smoke visible from a distance. Please remember to fact-check anything you hear or see, especially on social media. The best, most up-to-date and accurate information on this fire will be found on InciWeb. This site is updated regularly by the people who are managing the fire and is official information. Please do not rely on other sources for accurate information.

InciWeb link: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8209/
Closures, advisories, and evacuation order map: https://t.co/n7J2VnE7Cd
Yosemite Fire and Aviation Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YosemiteFire/

Status of Wawona and the Grove
Currently fire has not directly impacted any of the residential area of Wawona. All of your properties are currently safe, unimpacted, and undamaged. I know there have been several people voicing concern with how close the fire is to the Forest Drive/SDA camp area. Please understand this is a planned approach to managing this fire. When an area has burned and there is less fuel it is less likely to re-burn and can more easily be controlled. In order to provide a burned, reduced-fuel area around the community the fire crews have done "backburning" along control lines that run from the SDA camp to Stud Horse on Wawona Road. This gives them a nice, big buffer of area that can be relatively easily controlled and prevents the uncontrolled, hot, main fire from rushing toward town. Backburns are normally cooler, slower burns than the main fire, which means they act more like a prescribed fire in that they reduce fuel and have less impact on mature trees.

Two nights ago, if you looked at the infrared maps (FIRIS (@FIRIS) / Twitter) you will have seen hot and large fire near the Swinging Bridge/Water Intake and SDA camp area. That was a backburning operation to provide the blackened buffer I talked about above. It was a planned operation and was done with structure protection crews ready to go. This is a normal, planned, and expected approach to firefighting. There were no untoward effects from this operation and it put Wawona in a much more easily defended position should fire approach the town. To reiterate: Everything is looking very good, all properties are safe and accounted for and undamaged at this time.

Mariposa Grove has had fire up to the west and northern boundaries and fire activity has been curtailed by previous prescribed burns and a lot of work from fire crews. When you can return to Wawona expect to see orange retardant on the ridge from Wawona Point west and on the southern face of Mount Raymond. That will remain until we get rain to wash it away.

Fire remains active and uncontrolled on Mount Raymond and the South Fork east of Wawona. Crews are focused on these areas and are working to prevent them from re-threatening Wawona, Fish Camp, and such.

Please do not call or email asking for updates on your specific property. All properties are unaffected at this time and you can be assured your property is unchanged from when you left it. Should that change we will reach out to those affected as soon as practicable. As we said before, no news is good news!

Community Meeting

We are in the process of planning a community meeting for tomorrow, Thursday July 14. Look for announcements on Yosemite Fire and Aviation Facebook and Inciweb. This is planned for the Oakhurst Community center at 7PM.

Repopulation
We are not ready to repopulate Wawona yet. Please keep being patient and trust us when we say we will get you back as soon as it is safe to do so. There is a ton of fire traffic still in town, they are using the fire station, school, Welcome Plaza, and campground for fire support operations (think sleeping and feeding). We have helicopter work being done out of dip sites set up at the golf course. There is a lot of activity that affects road use and access. There is still active fire on all boundaries from the Swinging Bridge area to South Entrance and beyond. Until this is mitigated we cannot return people to home or work. Crews are working 24 hours a day to secure these lines completely. We will get you back as soon as it is safe to do so.

When we are ready to bring people back home, we will do it in phases. Residents will be our first phase. If you do not live in Wawona, and have a rental or vacation property, please try to allow several days or weeks before coming up. The first goal is to return people to their year-round homes. Due to the amount of fire traffic that will remain in the community, minimizing traffic will remain important for some time. As we said in our June Community Education presentation, if you are not a year-round resident and can wait to come up, we ask you to do that. We are sympathetic to everyone's desire to see the results of this fire, but that will be here for years to come, so if you can delay your trip up for a week or two after we repopulate we will greatly appreciate it.

As you start thinking about returning, please know we will be requiring ID to be shown at checkpoints, so start planning for that. If you do not have a local driver's license, please be prepared with a deed or utility bill with your name and a matching photo ID. Anyone not able to provide this information to the checkpoints will not be permitted access including relatives, etc. This is to ensure security of your property. We will not allow contractors or employees or other people hired to clean up property for a day or two after residents are allowed in. Please do not send these people up. We will communicate when this type of activity can resume and it will likely be a day or two after we allow residents back in.

Again, we are not ready to repopulate. We will bring you home as soon as we can safely do so.

In closing, thank you again for being prepared, remaining calm, and trusting us. We deeply appreciate your trust our team and thank you for your patience. We will see you back in Wawona soon.

Chad Andrews & Heidi Edgecomb
Wawona District
Yosemite National Park
209-375-9520

Washburn Fire Update: 7/13, 8:00 AM

OES Intel 12 on the #WashburnFire Yosemite National Park. Fire is mapped at 3,843 acres at 22:06 hours. pic.twitter.com/zSKsUd6rGD
— FIRIS (@FIRIS) July 13, 2022

InciWeb 7/13, 6:45 AM - The combination of continued warm and dry weather conditions along with the heavy accumulation of large fuels is creating the perfect recipe for the very active fire behavior we are seeing. Observers from a distance should expect to see heavy smoke production for the next few days as the fire activity increases each afternoon when the temperatures are at their highest and relative humidity’s are at their lowest, this is expected and not a direct threat to the giant sequoias. And while sections of the fire are not able to be fought head-on by fire crews due to the safety risk for firefighters, much of the rest of the fire is being successfully suppressed, fire lines are being strengthened, unburned fuel in the path of the fire are being burned to “starve the fire” and hot spots are being cooled. Areas which were initially evacuated are being monitored and safeguarded and as soon as it is determined to be safe, these areas will be able to welcome folks back home. Resources from around the country continue to arrive on the incident. It is important to remember that once an area has had fire, there is often a great deal of work required to make the area safe for people again. It should be made clear that there was, in no way, a hesitation in responding to and attacking this fire with all available resources and this is the continued suppression strategy.

Washburn Fire Update: 7/12 11:05AM

Cole Euken - W.Duty-July 12th at 9:25 AM
Fire remains very active this morning along the N/E side, on Raymond Mtn. Southern ridgeline is holding well with no spots across but progression out to the east is expected. Per Fire Watch 51 all spots across Hwy 41 and north of the Merced River are looking good with no visible heat.

Fire Activity High

Cole Euken - W. Dutyy, Jul 11th at 3:57 PM
Fire activity remains very active as the N/E section burns up the N/W face of Raymond Mtn. Additionally Intel 17V located 2 new spot fires, One approximately 400ft North of the Merced River at (37 32.34, -119 36.75) and one S/E of Wawona at (37 31.94, -119 37.73). Additionally AA has ordered 2 type 1 tankers to start painting a ridgeline along Raymond Mtn.

Fire At 2,720 Acres

Cole Euken - W. Duty, July 11th at 2:59 PM
Significant increase in fire activity along the N/E section of the fire. Pulling ground resources out as it makes a hard run up a ridgeline. Per FIRIS the fire is now mapped at 2,720 Acres.
Multiple small spot fires over Hwy 41, largest being a 50x50 ft spot. Bringing in additional ground and air resources to help contain them. Activity in the N/W and N/E sections are picking up as well.

Where to View Tonight's (July 11) Community Meeting

Tonight's community meeting on the Washburn Fire will be aired live through the Yosemite Fire and Aviation Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/YosemiteFire/

You should be able to watch it even if you don't have a Facebook account. But the WawonaNews page will also be airing the meeting live tonight at 7 right here. After the meeting, we will post a recording of the video for those who would rather watch it later.

A smoky sunset over Bass Lake due to the Washburn Fire Courtesy of Ashley Bell

Update 8:00am 7.11: Fire Still Uncontained

Posted by: Trisha Jacobs, SNO, July 11
The Washburn Fire has now burned 2,340 acres. Fire managers ultimate goal is full suppression, however they are reporting 0% containment at this time. Their biggest areas of concern include The Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, the community of Wawona and keeping the fire south of the south fork of the Merced River. Yesterday, backfiring operations were successfully completed near the Wawona Road (Highway 41). This week the concern is rising temperatures and changing wind patterns.

The Washburn Fire has now burned 2,340 acres. Fire managers ultimate goal is full suppression, however they are reporting 0% containment at this time. Their biggest areas of concern include The Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, the community of Wawona and keeping the fire south of the south fork of the Merced River. Yesterday, backfiring operations were successfully completed near the Wawona Road (Highway 41). This week the concern is rising temperatures and changing wind patterns.

Evacuations are still in place for Wawona and the south entrance park via Highway 41 is still closed. The rest of Yosemite National Park is open with access available through Highways 140 and 120. Guests can expect smoky conditions.
A community meeting has been scheduled for Monday, July 11th at 7pm. The location will be The Oakhurst Community Center. 39800 Fresno Flats Road in Oakhurst.

Maps Shows Dozer Line Protecting the South Side of Wawona

The Washburn fire incident management team will host a public meeting in Oakhurst, CA, on Monday, July 11, at 7 pm. Representatives from the Incident Management teal will discuss current and expected condition on the fire, and will hold a Question/Answer afterward. The meeting will take place at the Community Center of Oakhurst at 39800 Fresno Flats Rd. The meeting will also be livestreamed (details to come).

Fire retardant is dropped on the Washburn Fire as it burns in late afternoon light near the south entrance of Yosemite National Park Saturday, July 9, 2022 near Fish Camp. ERIC PAUL ZAMORA

Yosemite using aerial tankers, chemicals against wildfire. Why that’s ‘a big deal’ for park

BY TIM SHEEHAN UPDATED JULY 10, 2022 12:44 PM
Sacramento Bee

Tinder-dry conditions in Yosemite National Park have prompted firefighters battling the Washburn Fire to call in both air tanker planes to drop fire-retardant chemicals on the wildfire and bulldozers to help create containment lines. Both the tankers and the ’dozers are considered unusual for firefighting efforts in a national park, where the vast majority of the acreage is designated as wilderness, said Nancy Phillipe, a fire information spokeswoman for Yosemite National Park. “Obviously this is a full-suppression fire for us,” Phillipe told The Fresno Bee on Sunday. “For us, using retardant (chemicals) is a huge deal because this is wilderness.” National wilderness laws contain strict rules for when such chemicals can be used, she added, and the same is true for the bulldozers.

But both measures were deemed necessary to protect not only the iconic Mariposa Grove of giant sequoia trees that is threatened by the fire, but also the residential enclave of Wawona, inside the park boundaries, where a mandatory evacuation order has been in effect since Friday. The Wawona community is about three miles from Washburn Fire, which grew in size from about 1,100 acres on Saturday evening to almost 1,600 acres by Sunday morning – an increase of almost 50% overnight. Containment of the fire remained at 0% on Sunday morning.

Between the air tankers and almost a dozen helicopters dropping water on the fire, “it’s been quite an aerial show over Wawona,” Phillipe said.

By Saturday night, about 360 firefighters were working to contain the fire, an increase of about 150 from Friday. Those include hand crews building containment lines around the fire, along with engine crews. That number was expected to keep increasing Sunday as more teams from local, state and federal agencies arrive in the park, Phillipe said. Dead conifer trees, both standing and down, as well as dry brush on the forest floor after years of drought in the Sierra Nevada are contributing to the fire’s spread. The fire was first reported Thursday afternoon along the Washburn Trail in the Mariposa Grove, and the grove near the southern entrance to the park from Highway 41 remains evacuated and closed because of the continuing threat of the fire’s spread.

Within the Mariposa Grove, rangers have set up portable sprinkler systems to protect one of the park’s most well-known giant sequoias, the Grizzly Giant. In addition to moistening the forest floor around the tree, Phillipe said, the sprinklers also raise the humidity in the grove to reduce the dry conditions that could fuel flames.

The Mariposa Grove is the largest stand of massive giant sequoias in Yosemite, with more than 500 mature speciments of the iconic trees. The grove was the first area of what is now Yosemite National Park when President Abraham Lincoln signed legislation in 1864 to protect Mariposa Grove.

Rangers opted against wrapping the base of the Grizzly Giant – a 209-foot-tall, 3,000-year-old sequoia described as the second largest in the grove – and other giant sequoias within Mariposa Grove with a foil-like retardant material for fear of creating more of a “baked potato” effect if flames did sweep through the area, Phillipe said. But, she added, the wrapping was used to envelop a historic cabin in the grove.

NPS photo from Mariposa Grove showing the Galen Clark Cabin covered with structure protection wrap and a temporary sprinkler system in place. National Park Service

Firefighters said that previous prevention efforts within the grove, including prescribed burns and other measures to reduce fuels, could prove beneficial in minimizing the Washburn fire’s threat.

Read more at: https://www.fresnobee.com/news/california/fires/article263334033.html#storylink=cpy

Giant Sequoias May Be Saved

Washburn Fire Update 4:08 PM 7/10

Per Fire Watch 51 - Fire mapped at 2,045 Acres. Fire remains south of the Merced River, main active fire remains on the the North and Eastern-N/E sides of the fire. Western side has bumped Hwy 41/Wawona Rd with no spots across the Hwy.

Washburn Fire Update: 7/10, 3:25 PM

Cole Euken - W. Duty 2:20 PM
Fire activity beginning to pick up this afternoon as the smoke begins to clear. Working on getting fixed wing and helicopters up now with clearer conditions. Additionally overnight the fire did enter into Madera County just south of the Merced River.

Image taken at 9:20 AM

Washburn Fire Update: 9:14 AM, July 10

Fire now at 1821 acres but mostly moving in an east/northeast direction for now

Washburn Fire Update: July 10, 6:45 AM

Acreage now at 1591 with 0% containment. That's what InciWeb is reporting this morning on its 6 AM update, but those figures are from a mapping flight which took place around 10 PM last night. Main growth is towards South Fork. CalTopo Infrared map showing fire still has not reached Wawona.

From AP - 7/10 The fire is proving difficult to contain, with firefighters throwing “every tactic imaginable” at it, said Nancy Phillipe, a Yosemite fire information spokesperson. That included air drops of fire retardant as well as the planned use of bulldozers to create fire lines, a tactic that’s rarely used in a wilderness setting like Yosemite, Phillipe said.
The bulldozers would primarily be used to put in fire lines to protect Wawona, she said. About 600 to 700 people who were staying at the Wawona campground in tents, cabins and an historic hotel were ordered to leave.
Though firefighters were facing hot and dry conditions, they didn’t have to contend with intense winds on Saturday, said Jeffrey Barlow, senior meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Hanford. Given the relatively small size of the fire and minimal winds, smoke impacts were not expected to stretch far beyond the park, he said.
The giant sequoias, native in only about 70 groves spread along the western slope of California’s Sierra Nevada range, were once considered impervious to flames but have become increasingly vulnerable as wildfires fueled by a buildup of undergrowth from a century of fire suppression and drought exacerbated by climate change have become more intense and destructive.
Lightning-sparked wildfires over the past two years have killed up to a fifth of the estimated 75,000 large sequoias, which are the biggest trees by volume.
There was no obvious natural spark for the fire that broke out Thursday next to the park’s Washburn Trail, Phillipe said. Smoke was reported by visitors walking in the grove that reopened in 2018 after a $40 million renovation that took three years.
The fire had grown to about 1.9 square miles (4.8 square kilometers) by Saturday evening.
A fierce windstorm ripped through the grove a year-and-a-half ago and toppled 15 giant sequoias, along with countless other trees.
The downed trees, along with massive numbers of pines killed by bark beetles, provided ample fuel for the flames.
The park has used prescribed burns to clear brush around the sequoias, which helps protect them if flames spread farther into the grove.

InciWeb Forecast on Washburn Fire - 7/9 8:30 PM

12 hours: Expect the fire to keep growing moderately. The fire has remained active overnight, and that will be expected tonight.
24 hours: With the forecast warming and drying, fire activity will increase during the day tomorrow (7/10).
48 hours: Forecast weather indicates heating trend through the week. Fire activity will remain actively spreading.
72 hours: Forecast weather indicates heating trend through the week. Fire activity will remain actively spreading.
Anticipated after 72 hours: Forecast weather indicates heating trend through the week. Fire activity will remain actively spreading. Once the fire reaches some of the recent fire scars, spread may slow, but fire will continue to burn into the fire scar with reduced intensity and increased dead and down fuel loading.

Yosemite Valley Inundated With Smoke From Washburn Fire

July 9 - Exiting the park from Yosemite West through the valley this morning. (Soundtrack provided by concerned cat.)

Live View Of Washburn Fire (Daytime Only)

If you are having trouble viewing this video, try this direct link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQ18nXXLwKM

Washburn Fire Update From Wawona District Ranger

Wawona community members,

We wanted to provide an update on what to expect going forward with regard to the Washburn Fire.  Please forward this to any community members who are not listed, and distribute to whomever you normally do. Thank you for sharing the message.

Closures
As you know, we are currently evacuated. All of Wawona is closed and inaccessible to the public and residents. Wawona Road is closed from South Boundary to Henness Ridge Road. Wawona maintenance area, Mariposa Grove Welcome Plaza, and Wawona Campground are being utilized to support the firefighting operations.

From the time the Evacuation Order went out to everyone it took approximately four hours to clear the community. Thank you for your efficiency and preparation! Everything went smoothly and everyone vacated safely. There is a very small group of fire, law enforcement, and utilities employees remaining in Wawona as long as possible to ensure security, safety and critical infrastructure needs are attended to, as well as to support the many firefighters that are here. In addition to working on the actual fire, many fire resources are patrolling and preparing the community should defensive action become necessary.

Please ensure you are signed up for Everbridge Alerts. This will be how we notify you of community meetings, re-population and other similar info. Sign up here: https://member.everbridge.net/453003085619123/new

Where to Get Accurate Info
The fire is currently very close to Wawona on the Forest Drive side, but has not entered areas with structures at this point. The biggest challenge with this fire thus far has been spotting ahead of the main fire and smoke reducing the ability of aircraft to work. We know it is difficult to be away and see dozens of scary photos and posts on social media. The area this fire is burning has little-to-no fire history, so there is very heavy fuel in much of the area which adds to the amount of smoke visible from a distance.  Please remember to fact-check anything you hear or see, especially on social media.  The best, most up-to-date and accurate information on this fire will be found on InciWeb. This site is updated regularly by the people who are managing the fire and is official information. Please do not rely on other sources for accurate information.

InciWeb link: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8209/
Closures, advisories, and evacuation order map: https://t.co/n7J2VnE7Cd
Yosemite Fire and Aviation Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YosemiteFire/

How Updates Will Be Sent

We have asked the Incident Management Team (IMT) to provide morning email updates to our normal distribution list. These will start tomorrow. Feel free to share this information. As we discussed in our June Community Education program, no news is good news, and we will update you as much as we can. The IMT is coordinating many resources and they are indeed working very hard to protect the community.

Community Meeting
We are in the process of planning a community meeting for Monday, July 11. The time and place are still being determined, but it will be in one of the surrounding communities and we will try to have it live-streamed or filmed and posted. We will send an Everbridge message announcing details as soon as we can.

Finally, thank you all for being prepared, remaining calm, and trusting us. We truly feel we have the best community members, and your trust and faith in us during yet another emergency reinforces that belief. Please stay safe, breathe some clean air, and try to do your best to relax. We will get you back to your properties as soon as we can safely do so.
Chad Andrews - Wawona District Ranger
Heidi Edgecomb - Wawona Operations Supervisor
Wawona District
Yosemite National Park

Flight Radar Map

July 9, 6:30 PM - The Flight Radar tracker website has been sowing activity by at least 3 helicopters and three air tankers all day long. In addition there are over 350 firefighters on the ground. To follow live updates on the flight radar click on the link below:

Flight Radar Map

Infrared Cal Topo Map of Washburn Fire

July 9th, 6:00 PM - The CalTopo map shows a significant increase of hotspots since yesterday, but one encouraging detail about it is that currently, it shows the hotspots moving in the upstream (eastern) direction, away from Wawona. Still, part of the fire perimeter is dangerously close to Wawona. And as you can see, there are even hotspots on the Mt. Savage area and along the north west section of the Wawona Loop. To follow updated versions of this map, click on the link below.

Infrared Cal Topo Map of Washburn Fire

Washburn Fire News
Dear readers,
As most of you know, we have made a point of posting as much fire information as we can get regularly now, summer after summer. And sometimes before and after summer. So you may have wondered why there haven't been any updates for the last 30 hours or so. It turns out, we were forced to evacuate Wawona at the very moment we were setting up to post the latest updates. As we were only allowed to exit North along Wawona Road, we first stopped at Yosemite Valley, hoping to get lodging for the night. But the only thing available were two canvas tents at Curry Village and since we had guests and two cats with us we were not able to stay there. Fortunately, Scenic Wonders was able to accommodate all of us in Yosemite West for last night only.

Unfortunately, as most of you know, most of Yosemite West does not have internet service, so we were not able to post any fire updates. But here we are again, readu to post as much information as we can find for the duration of this terrible fire.

Sincerely,

Fede Peinado

Washburn Fire Cam Update 7:46 AM - July 8

Washburn Fire Update

Update 8:07pm 7.7.2022 SNOThe FIRIS high tech fire mapping air craft has mapped the fire at 46 acres including 5 spot fires that are less than 1/4 of an acre each. The Incident Commander (IC) is requesting that the firefighting aircraft return to the fire tomorrow morning at 8:00am.

WashburnFire (Yosemite NP) - Intel 24 over the fire & has mapped it at 46 acres which includes 5 spot fires out in front, the largest spot is 1/4 acre & the others are under a 1/10th of an acre.

Update 5:45pm 7.7.2022 SNO

The Washburn Fire is currently approximately 10 acres and the Mariposa Grove is closed until further notice. Firefighters are working to suppress the fire from the ground and air.

Original Post
YOSEMITE -- At approximately 3:00pm on Thursday, July 7th, 2022 a wildfire was reported burning in Yosemite National Park. On the Wildcad dashboard it was documented as the “Washburn Fire” and only 1 acre with a slow rate of spread. Firefighting aircraft that were returning from a smaller fire in the Mariposa area were able to fly near the fire and confirm the fire and relay much needed information to Yosemite National Park (YNP) fire managers. It was determined that the fire was in the Mariposa Grove/ Wawona area near the Washburn trail.

YNP fire officials immediately dispatched ground crews and their helicopter to begin fighting the fire. It was not long after that YNP officials put in a special request to use fire retardant in the park. This is not a common practice due to restrictions about the type of firefighting that can be conducted on National Park lands.

By 5:00pm the fire had progressed to approximately 10 acres and permission was granted to use the retardant. Immediately an order was put in for 4 tankers to begin fighting the fire from the air.

We will update this story as soon as we have any new information.

Mariposa Grove Closed Due to Washburn Fire

Goldrush Cam July 7, 2022 - Yosemite National Park officials have reported that the Washburn Fire is burning near the lower portion of the Mariposa Grove. The fire is about five to eight acres. Firefighters are suppressing the fire from the ground and air.

The Mariposa Grove is closed until further notice.

Washburn Fire Update: July 11, 25% Containment

A smoky sunset over Bass Lake due to the Washburn Fire Courtesy of Ashley Bell

Maps Shows Dozer Line Protecting the South Side of Wawona

Fire retardant is dropped on the Washburn Fire as it burns in late afternoon light near the south entrance of Yosemite National Park Saturday, July 9, 2022 near Fish Camp. ERIC PAUL ZAMORA

NPS photo from Mariposa Grove showing the Galen Clark Cabin covered with structure protection wrap and a temporary sprinkler system in place. National Park Service

Giant Sequoias May Be Saved

Video Update From Yosemite Fire And Aviation

Image taken at 9:20 AM

Washburn Fire Update: 9:14 AM, July 10

Fire now at 1821 acres but mostly moving in an east/northeast direction for now

Yosemite Valley Inundated With Smoke From Washburn Fire

July 9 - Exiting the park from Yosemite West through the valley this morning. (Soundtrack provided by concerned cat.)

Live View Of Washburn Fire (Daytime Only)

If you are having trouble viewing this video, try this direct link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQ18nXXLwKM

Washburn Fire Update From Wawona District Ranger

Flight Radar Map

Flight Radar Map

Infrared Cal Topo Map of Washburn Fire

Infrared Cal Topo Map of Washburn Fire

Washburn Fire Cam Update 7:46 AM - July 8

4th of July Parade and Potluck BBQ

Please join us for the Wawona 4th of July Parade and potluck BBQ!

Parade starts around 10 am Monday at the stables and will proceed up past the school, library, pine tree market etc from there.

Potluck BBQ to follow in PTM picnic area.

Possible Mayor of Wawona Contest if participants can be coerced.
Katie and Michael Henderson

How the Climate Crisis is Forever Changing Our National Parks

By Rachel Ramirez, CNN
(CNN)When Garrett Dickman drove through Yosemite National Park early this week, he passed through a diverse band of large trees -- conifer, red fir, lodgepole pine -- and noticed a grim pattern: many of the trees were either dead or dying.

"It was really striking to see that every single tree seems to be getting hit by either climatic changes; it could be dying from drought, or it could be insect attack or fungus, but they're certainly weakened," Dickman, a forest ecologist with the National Park Service, told CNN. "There's a big shift happening right now, and it's right in front of our eyes."

The consequences of the climate crisis -- more wildfires, devastating drought, sea level rise, flooding, ecological disease -- are plaguing the country's national parks. Most recently, unprecedented flash flooding overwhelmed Yellowstone National Park and some of its surrounding areas.

Scientists and officials say it signals a dramatic change unfolding at the nation's most prized parks. And unless the planet slashes fossil fuel emissions, scientists believe the climate crisis could drastically alter the landscapes, cultural sites and ecosystems in the parks, potentially making them inaccessible for humans and uninhabitable for other species.

Employee housing fell into Yellowstone River during flooding on June 13, 2022.

Yellowstone's North Entrance Road was washed out by the flooding

What happened at Yellowstone is also a classic example of the climate crisis converging with failed emergency disaster response, said Marcy Rockman, a former climate change adaptation coordinator for the Park Service.
"When I heard they were evacuating every visitor from Yellowstone, I was like, 'Oh my god, evacuating every visitor was not a part of our climate change scenarios,' " Rockman told CNN. "Seeing what my former colleagues at Yellowstone are having to deal with now, it's like ... I'm worried for them."

That the parks' climate change response "now involves 'how do you evacuate everyone from a park' is just a gut-punch that I don't think we had fully taken in when we started the climate program," she said.
As more climate change-fueled events occur, CNN talked to Park Service officials and scientists to see how the climate crisis may alter the ecosystems and landscapes of some of the country's most beloved national treasures.

Yosemite National Park

Climate change has already touched one of the Sierra Nevada's most valuable sites. Yosemite National Park has been forced to close several times in recent years because of extreme heat, deadly wildfires or dangerous air quality from fire smoke.
The average temperature in Yosemite may increase by up to 10 degrees Fahrenheit by the end of the century, which is several degrees higher than global temperatures are predicted to surge.

A deer grazes in Cook's Meadow at Yosemite.

And it's not a future threat. Park rangers and scientists have already observed the shrinking snowpack, dried-up waterfalls, increasing fire activity and more tree die-offs like those Dickman observed.

"People come to Yosemite because we have some of the biggest trees on Earth," Dickman said. "But the whole experience in Yosemite is starting to be altered ... We're just kind of seeing that tree line lift up in a weird way."
As average temperature increases, it increases the elevation of where trees can grow. Dickman said forecast models show this part of the Sierra Nevada could look more like the mountains around Los Angeles, where trees can grow at a higher elevation because of the warmer temperatures.

Studies have also showed the range of small mammals in Yosemite has shifted upslope over the last century as the area warmed.

Dickman told CNN even 10 years ago he was concerned about different threats, pointing to how the park dealt more with flooding from powerful storms coming off the Pacific Ocean and less with dangerous wildfires.
"For our preparedness now, it's really going to be around fire, and to get fire back on the ground in a good way to ward off some of the effects of these climate- and fuels-driven fires," he said.

Glacier National Park

Scientists at Glacier National Park are bracing for its namesakes to disappear entirely.
"If you wanted to see a glacier, go to Glacier National Park in Montana," Beissinger said "But you better get there soon, because the glaciers are going to be gone from Glacier National Park, probably sometime in the next decade or two. They've been disappearing."

The Jackson Glacier Overlook, along the east side of Going-to-the-Sun Road is one of the easiest spots in the park to see a glacier.

In the past 50 years, some of the Montana park's 26 glaciers have lost as much as 80% of their area. Loss of glacier ice is a huge threat for aquatic ecosystems within the park that rely on cold freshwater. It also threatens the surrounding area with increased flooding.

Much like the flooding at Yellowstone in June, the climate crisis is expected to trigger more flooding at Glacier. As Yellowstone closed down to visitors during its flooding disaster, officials at Glacier warned visitors their park was also Melting glaciers are also a significant source of sea level rise. Caitlyn Florentine, a research physical scientist at the US Geological Survey who studies US glaciers, noted the glaciers at Glacier National Park are already quite small. But when taken together with other glaciers globally under a warming climate, they are enough to cause significant sea level rise around the planet.

"The meltwater from these glaciers affects the streams that are very high in the alpine environment," Florentine told CNN, pointing to a study which found "the presence or absence of glacier meltwater will be felt by water in the rivers that feed agricultural communities to the east of the park."

Given the rate at which climate change is accelerating, researchers say the timing of the loss depends highly on how much fossil fuel we burn in the future.

Sequoia National Park

Just south of the Yosemite Valley in California, the West's megadrought is weakening and destroying the nation's largest, oldest trees in Sequoia National Park.

Six fires over the course of six years burned more than 85% of the giant sequoia grove acreage across the larger Sierra Nevada, compared to around 25% over the previous 100 years, the National Park Service reported. Three of those fires crossed into Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, forcing officials to close the parks to the public and take dramatic steps to protect the trees.

In September 2021, park biologists wrapped the base of General Sherman -- the planet's largest living tree -- in protective foil as the flames of the KNP Complex fire approached. General Sherman is estimated to be anywhere from 2,200 to 2,700 years old, and has grown to 275 feet.

The tree's diameter is more than 36 feet at its base, which is about as wide as six average cars.
Park scientists have already seen "major effects" of climate change, said Christy Brigham, chief of resource management and science at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, mainly in the form of hotter, drier droughts and how they fuel extreme wildfires.

"We had a historic superintendent's building burned down in a recent wildfire," Brigham told CNN. "So those kinds of impacts are already happening in lots of national parks, and will continue to happen."

NPS personnel fold up fire resistant aluminum and fiberglass blankets as they unwrap General Sherman.

Assistant Fire Manager Leif Mathiesen, of the Sequoia & Kings Canyon Nation Park Fire Service, looks for an opening in the burned-out sequoias in Redwood Mountain Grove.

Brigham added the climate crisis is "already changing our day-to-day operational business of managing our national parks."
Besides maintaining public amenities and ensuring endangered species are safe, she said park employees -- who have also been personally impacted by wildfires -- are working even harder to clear up trails and engage in new emergency response systems to prepare for events such as fire risks.

"People who work in these places like me and all the other staff really care deeply about keeping these places the spectacular environments that they are for the enjoyment of visitors, and we are seeing changes," Brigham said. "I came to Sequoia National Park from a different Park in 2015, and we were already seeing lots of dead trees from hotter drought, and that's only been made worse by the wildfires."

National parks, like Sequoia National Park, "is a place where we share values, as Americans, in terms of our heritage," she added. "It's a place where we can connect and see the impacts and maybe make some choices to reduce those impacts in the future."

Grand Canyon National Park

The impact of warmer temperatures, severe lack of rainfall and stunted streamflow on the Colorado River is alarming at Grand Canyon National Park, said Mark Nebel, the park's geosciences program manager.
The climate crisis is critically altering the Arizona park's ecosystems, habitats for species, as well as its hydrology, Nebel told CNN.

"We're seeing snow melting about a month earlier than it did a century ago, and there's evaporation as well, and that really affects the levels of water in the [Grand Canyon's groundwater] aquifer," Nebel said. "We're concerned about how it will affect the springs, which are our drinking water source, as well as the vast majority of the biodiversity around the springs."
Vasey's Paradise Spring is one which has gone from consistently reliable to bone dry.

What Vasey's Paradise Spring looks like in a normal springtime flow.

Vasey's Paradise Spring in 2022. Park officials say they dont totally understand why the spring is cut off, but they suspect it was caused by the lower groundwater table. There are other normally reliable springs in the park that are also showing erratic behavior.

The West's megadrought has devastated the Colorado River, which is a vital resource for the national park. Increased flooding, rock slides, wildfires, and heavy storms also pose severe challenges to Grand Canyon's cultural sites, infrastructure, surrounding communities, fisheries and other wildlife.

Because of a hotter and drier climate, as well as aging infrastructure, Nebel said the park is changing the source of their water supply from groundwater, which has long relied on one of Grand Canyon's springs, to surface water supply elsewhere.

The plummeting level of Lake Powell upstream on the Colorado River -- the nation's second-largest reservoir -- is affecting species in the river downstream and at the park according to Nebel.

"With the water level lowering at Lake Powell, these warm-water invasive fish that are normally near the surface are coming through the dam and getting into the Grand Canyon National Park and threatening native fisheries," he said. "Our fisheries folks have been working really hard to remove like invasive trout from streams, where these native fish reproduce."

Nebel acknowledge for most visitors who are only there for a few days, the impacts of climate change in the park are largely imperceptible. It's different for the park researchers and staff who live with them day in and day out.

"For most of us who work at Grand Canyon, we see these crises, we see the danger, we see the damage," Nebel said, and "we see that it's gonna get worse."

Joshua Tree National ParkFor Steve Beissinger, ecology professor at the University of California in Berkeley, national parks like Joshua Tree in Southern California are vital for scientific research. But over the years he has seen how climate change has threatened the park's biodiversity by pushing many species -- including small mammals and birds -- toward the brink of extinction.

"When we go back and resurvey places [in Joshua Tree] that the early scientists at UC Berkeley visited a century ago, we find about half as many birds, and that's because it's warmed and dried so much," Beissinger told CNN. "What we're seeing is a whole kind of change in a community; a collapse in the case of birds. For park managers, there's limits of what they can actually do to reverse this because of the climate change effects."

The extreme heat, dire lack of rain and drought conditions at Joshua Tree have triggered a decline in several species, including the cactus mouse, kangaroo rat, mountain quail and other bird species.

A visitor walks through Hidden Valley in Joshua Tree National Park.

Joshua trees in the park.

Joshua trees themselves are also at risk. Scientists have concluded the western Joshua trees could lose up to 90% of its current habitat in the Mojave Desert by as early as 2070. In mid-June, the California Fish and Game Commission considered whether to list the tree under the state's Endangered Species Act. The four-person commission was split down the middle and so failed to secure a majority vote to give the species protected status.

Jane Rodgers, chief of science and resource stewardship at Joshua Tree National Park, said they're "fortunate to have some longer term data which is hard to come by for land managers to be able to inform and make decisions." She said such comprehensive data allows park managers to b proactive rather than reactive to extreme weather and drought.

"We are looking at a holistic portfolio of things we can do to protect these areas," Rodgers told CNN. "It's not just continuing to collect data, but also protecting these areas by managing fuels or creating fuel breaks, so that firefighters have a higher probability of stopping a fire. We want to be prepared for that ahead of time as much as we can."

Everglades National Park

Urban sprawl is nestled next to protected wetlands on the fringes of Everglades National Park.

As US national parks in the West continue to be plagued with drought, the opposite is taking shape in the eastern end of the country.
Everglades National Park in southern Florida is disappearing because of sea level rise. The vast wetlands are now half their original size not only due to rising sea levels but also rampant urban development.

Researchers with the National Park Service have observed an increase in water level at some inland, freshwater areas in the Everglades over the last 50 years, on par with the pace of rising seas in the region.

The park has also been battered by intense hurricanes in recent years. The Everglades, which encompasses 1.5 million acres of mangroves, marshes and upland forest, is a critical buffer, absorbing the fury of tropical storms. Hurricane Irma pummeled the region in 2017, and the Everglades took much of the storm's wrath and protected inland communities.
But scientists warn the barriers won't be around for much longer. Because of the dramatic changes seen in US national parks, Dickman said people should make climate-conscious choices to help preserve the landscapes for future generations.

"The history of America is painted [in these parks], anything from some of the good in our history, some of the bad of our history, and it protects some of the most incredible landscapes on Earth," Dickman said. "I have traveled around the Earth and it is hard to go to a place more beautiful than the national parks of America. And we so owe the next generation the ability to experience these places as we have."

Fire Season Declared
Yosemite National Park has declared fire season as of June 30, 2022 due to hotter and drier weather conditions. Fire season is officially enacted when the fire danger ratings for the park are at or above a moderate level for three consecutive days.
When recreating, be sure to follow all fire rules and regulations. Help prevent human caused wildfires by ensuring your campfire is out cold using the "drown, stir, and feel method."

Sign up for Yosemite alerts at: go.nps.gov/alert
For information planning your visit in Yosemite National Park visit: www.nps.gov/yose
Yosemite Fire Information
[email protected]
go.nps.gov/yosefire
Facebook @YosemiteFire
Twitter @YosemiteFire
Instagram @YosemiteFire

Wawona Road Hazard Tree Removal Until Further Notice

Beginning Tuesday, July 5 park forestry crews will be working along Wawona Road between Yosemite West and Wawona. Work will take place Monday through Thursday, 8am to 3pm. Expect traffic delays. (J. Brown)

Our Secret Is Out...
(LA Times Publishes Article About Our Favorite Swimming Hole)

9 magical swimming holes in California to escape the heat

BY MIKE MORRIS - LA Times
APRIL 8, 2022

Need to chill? California’s coastline and beaches typically get all the attention, but consider an old-fashioned swimming hole to cool off on hot days.

If you go, be mindful of fast-moving water, check the park websites for current conditions and restrictions, and make sure to pack out all of your trash.

Ready to take the plunge?

Wawona Swinging Bridge, Yosemite National Park.
(Christopher Reynolds/Los Angeles Times)Wawona Swinging Bridge, Yosemite National ParkSwimming hole
Yosemite is famous for its towering waterfalls, but when conditions are right the park also offers places to cool off in snow-melt water.

A swimming hole at the Wawona Swinging Bridge can be fun for the family. The swinging bridge is off California 41 near Yosemite’s southern entrance.
website
Click for directions

Santa Paula "Punch Bowls"Swimming hole
Southern Californians don’t have to travel far to visit a picture-perfect swimming hole: The Punch Bowls — a series of pools with a natural water slide — are north of Santa Paula and east of Ojai in Los Padres National Forest.

The trail begins near Thomas Aquinas College in Santa Paula. This popular swimming spot is between Big Cone and Cross campgrounds and is an eight-mile round-trip hike.
READ ALL
website
Click for directions
(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Seven Falls, Santa Barbara River

BY CHRISTOPHER REYNOLDS
In the foothills of Santa Barbara, the Seven Falls Trail includes three tempting pools when the weather cooperates. The trailhead is on Tunnel Road (where parking is in high demand), near its junction with Owl Ridge Road above the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden. It’s a moderate to challenging 3.2-mile round-trip hike to reach the sometimes-dry site of the pools and falls. The route, which isn’t always clearly marked, gets steep in parts and involves a lot of rock-hopping and boulders — a thrill for some, peril for others.

The trail starts on paved road (used by utility crews), becomes dirt road, then follows Mission Creek. Everyone who takes the journey seems to have a different response. In the first days of April, one hiker on AllTrails reported that “I love this trail so much.” Said another: “Dry and I got lost twice.” It’s generally wetter in winter, of course.
READ ALL
website
Click for directions

Santa Barbara Red Rock Pools Swimming hole
Farther west in the Los Padres National Forest, hikers will find several large swimming holes along Red Rock Trail in the Santa Barbara area.

Red Rock Pools, the most popular, is about a half-mile from the trailhead and can be crowded on the weekends. The more secluded pools are farther up the Santa Ynez River.
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website
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(Mary Forgione/Los Angeles Times)

Century Lake, Malibu Creek State Park Swimming hole
BY MARY FORGIONE
The views in the watery vistas perfectly reflect the surrounding rock faces. It’s not a natural lake, so where did it come from? In 1903, rich Angelenos created the dam and lake as a fishing and hunting preserve for members of a country club. The club flourished for a while but eventually went belly up. In 1946, 20th Century Fox Studios bought the lake and a big swath of land to film movies, hence the name.

READ ALL
website
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(USDA Forest Service)
Rainbow Pool, Yosemite National Park Swimming hole
Rainbow Pool, which features a waterfall along the South Fork of the Tuolumne River, was originally a toll stop in the stagecoach days. It was later the site of a popular resort, which burned down in 1958.

Today, the Rainbow Pool day-use area is a picnic spot — managed by the Stanislaus National Forest — that caters to those visiting Yosemite.
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website
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(David Bunnell/Calveras Visitors Bureau)Natural Bridges, Calaveras CountySwimming hole
Natural Bridges is a swimming hole in the Sierra foothills. This summertime hot spot near the Tuolumne-Calaveras county line rewards hikers with a swim in ice-cold Coyote Creek through a moss-covered cave.

The Natural Bridges parking area is between Columbia State Historic Park and the wineries of Murphys. The round-trip hike is about two miles, but make sure to pack plenty of water because the return back to the car is all uphill.
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website
Click for directions

South Yuba River Swimming hole
The South Yuba River, near Grass Valley and Nevada City, is known for its pristine swimming holes surrounded by smooth granite rocks.

Swimming spots include Oregon Creek, South Yuba River State Park, Edwards Crossing, Mountain Dog, North Canyon, Middle Yuba Bridge and Shangri-la.
website
Click for directions

Swim Beach, Richardson Grove State Park Swimming hole
Richardson Grove State Park, deep in the redwood forests of southern Humboldt County, offers a family-friendly swimming area on the South Fork of the Eel River.

Swim Beach, as it’s known, is adjacent to the river

Hootenanny at the Pine Tree Market

Pine Tree Market hosted a Wawona Hootenanny which included Fish Camp BBQ, live music and square dancing to benefit Wawona School as well as bring the community together for a fun evening.

Logging trucks driving up Big Oak Flat Road from Yosemite Valley in Yosemite National Park, June 2022. DOUG BEVINGTON Special

Yosemite Logging Unprecedented For a National Park, Says Conservation Group Suing To Stop It

BY CARMEN KOHLRUSS- Fresno Bee
JUNE 16, 2022 11:55 AM

Yosemite National Park has a large logging project underway that a California conservation group is asking a federal judge to stop. The project summary states that trees up to 20 inches in diameter could be cut down in Yosemite across approximately 2,000 acres and 40 miles of park roads and trails. “In some places, the logging that they’re doing in Yosemite Valley is so intensive, it’s actually clear cutting,” said ecologist Chad Hanson, co-founder and director of the John Muir Project. “They’re actually clear cutting the forest – mature and old forests – in Yosemite Valley.” The John Muir Project is part of the Berkeley-based nonprofit Earth Island Institute that filed the federal lawsuit on Monday in the Fresno division of U.S. District Court.

It names Yosemite Superintendent Cicely Muldoon in her official capacity, the National Park Service, and the U.S. Department of the Interior. Earth Island Institute staff first became aware around May 11 that logging for this project was already happening. Hanson said tens of thousands of trees could be cut down throughout Yosemite. The lawsuit states Yosemite violated the National Environmental Policy Act and Administrative Procedure Act, which governs how federal agencies develop and issue regulations, in addition to failing to uphold its mission and purpose, to conserve the scenery in a way that will leave it “unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.”

Logs in Yosemite Valley in May 2022. Special to The Bee

Burning after cutting trees in Yosemite Valley, June 2022. DOUG BEVINGTON Special to The Bee

Yosemite has not done the proper environmental analysis, the complaint alleges, and has also not shared some documents with the public that the national park used to make decisions. “Yosemite National Park is aware of the litigation that was filed regarding the tree removal in the park,” Yosemite spokesperson Scott Gediman said Wednesday afternoon. “We are currently reviewing the contents of the litigation. At this time, we do not have any further comment on this matter and we’ll continue to work through it.” Gediman said he was not able to answer some other questions from The Bee at this time, which included whether Yosemite ever solicited public input about the project.

The plaintiffs said Yosemite’s logging plans were not made available for public comment. Yosemite describes the project on its website as a biomass removal and thinning project to protect wildlife habitat, communities, and giant sequoias – although many of the proposed tree removals are outside where giant sequoias are known to grow in Yosemite. “Immediate actions are needed to protect these areas from high severity fire,” the project states. “The goals are reached by thinning conifers <20” diameter, standing dead trees, and removing dead and down trees that died after the 2012-2016 drought.” This comes in the midst of a busy year for Yosemite, with numerous large projects underway. Reservations are currently needed to enter Yosemite during peak hours due to construction and a temporary reduction in parking.

LOGGING IN A NATIONAL PARK? ‘I’M PROFOUNDLY CONCERNED’

Hanson said some of the felled trees are being sent to commercial sawmills, while in the past, hazardous trees cut down in Yosemite were left on the ground to biodegrade as part of the ecosystem. “This is a massive departure from that,” Hanson said, “and they didn’t even tell anyone they were doing it.” It’s unclear where revenue generated from the logs are going. The project summary states that they will be hauled “to the nearest mill, co-gen plant, or other biomass processing plant” or “piled and burned,” and that “any value from biomass removal will offset project costs and will not support park operations.”

Hanson worries about the precedent this project could set. He’s never heard of a similar project in another national park. “I’m profoundly concerned,” Hanson said, “because if Yosemite National Park can start a large-scale commercial logging program, then this can happen in any national park in the country.” Hanson called the most “egregious” actions those now occurring in Yosemite Valley. In addition to Yosemite Valley, the project includes tree removals along Wawona Road (Highway 41 outside Yosemite), Big Oak Flat and Tioga roads (Highway 120 outside the park), and within Yosemite’s Merced and Tuolumne groves of giant sequoias. Yosemite uses the word “thinning,” not logging, in its project description. Details about the project, listed in Yosemite’s categorical exclusion form, provides more insight into what that thinning means, referencing the use of “heavy equipment, chainsaws, and other tools used in thinning operations,” along with bulldozers and fire trucks.

More trees cut down in Yosemite Valley. JENNIFER MAMOLA Special to The Bee

DETAILS OF LAWSUIT AGAINST YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK

Earth Island Institute filed a request for a preliminary injunction on Wednesday that could stop more trees from being cut down while the case is being decided. Among documents not released by Yosemite: The lawsuit states the national park has not shared the environmental impact statement of a 2004 fire management plan, which Yosemite references in its project summary to justify its actions. “There’s a lot of issues here about public transparency,” said attorney Thomas Buchele of the Earthrise Law Center, representing Earth Island Institute in this case. Buchele didn’t share an estimate about when the court could reach a final decision in this case. There were no scheduled court dates as of earlier this week.

Instead of conducting a new environmental impact statement or environmental assessment, the lawsuit states, Yosemite filed a less-thorough categorical exclusion form, which largely relies on older studies. Earth Island Institute said that document is inadequate and in contradiction with key points in previous plans, including that Yosemite can now remove trees up to 20 inches in diameter, instead of those only up to 12 inches in diameter. “Tiered actions cannot ‘differ’ from the document tiered to – this is the opposite of what NEPA contemplates,” the lawsuit states. Yosemite’s actions are especially “arbitrary and capricious” given that NPS itself stated the 2004 fire management plan is “out of date and no longer accurately reflects or responds to on-the-ground conditions,” the lawsuit says.

CONCERNS ABOUT WILDFIRE AND ENDANGERED ANIMALS

Among the concerns is how this project will affect endangered and threatened wildlife in the Yosemite area – and research of them – including the Pacific fisher, black-backed woodpecker, great grey owl, and spotted owl. Yosemite notes that fishers and great grey owls might be present in the project area and that they could suffer “minor” impacts, but “much smaller than those posed by catastrophic fire, which could result from not taking action.” Hanson argues against that point and says Yosemite needs to consider other scientific studies that show logging often increases wildfire danger. In a court declaration, Hanson said Yosemite shouldn’t be relying upon a 2004 fire management plan. Since then, “the entire scientific landscape has changed dramatically regarding forest and wildfire science, and the 2004-era assumptions and assertions upon which the Project is based are now viewed as strongly contested, highly controversial, or largely discredited,” he continued.

Earth Island Institute and a couple other California conservation groups also have a pending lawsuit before a federal judge in Fresno regarding logging projects in national forests that could harm the federally endangered Southern Sierra Nevada population of Pacific fisher, a tree-dwelling mammal in the weasel family. The U.S. Court of Appeals in January ordered the case be sent back to the U.S. District Court for further review. Hanson said many watchdog organizations, including his own, have focused on national forests, thinking they didn’t need to worry about national parks, but this new logging project has changed that. This logging project is in addition to many other trees cut down in Yosemite last year, he added. “What they’ve done already to-date is devastating,” Hanson said, “and what they’re proposing to do, in terms of the further logging, would be far more devastating.”

Update On Downed Tree Removal And Pine Needle Pick Up

We are combining the pine needle pick-up with our grant work, which is downed tree removal primarily, and we are scheduling it with the equipment we have onsite to do that work in the most efficient way possible. Also, because our grant won't allow us to burn the needles as has been done in the past, we have to schedule in trucking loads to the dump, which is time consuming. I promise that the work will get done asap and within the next few weeks.
I just want to confirm that the pine needles are being picked up and the job is ongoing.
As you all know, there has been a lawsuit filed against the Park. As far as I know, that will not prevent us from working on the private lots in Wawona. It could stop us from treating the Park lots but it does not apply at this point to the work of the RCD on private, state lands under CEQA.

Thanks,
Melinda Barret

The Return of Covid, The Return of Masks in Yosemite Buildings and Public Transportation

Masks are again required indoors and in enclosed public transportation. Yosemite National Park is currently at high COVID-19 community levels. Mask wearing is now required for all people when entering federal buildings and enclosed public transportation, regardless of vaccination status. We would like to thank our visitors for their patience and commitment in protecting themselves, our staff, and our visitors.

Wawona Fuels Reduction Until Further Notice

Contractors are removing fuels in the form of dead and down trees from private and NPS lots in the community of Wawona to create defensible space for the community against fire and to provide for fire fighter safety. Heavy equipment and truck traffic will be operating in the community. Expect increased truck traffic on Big Oak Flat Road and Wawona Road. Homeowners may still sign up for this free service. Contact [email protected] for more information. (G. Dickman)

YOSEMITE-WAWONA ELEMENTARY CHARTER SCHOOL
Board of Directors Regular Meeting
Thursday, June 23, 2022
5:30 P.M.
Wawona Elementary School
7925 Chilnualna Falls Road
Wawona, CA

CALL TO ORDER
ROLL CALL

MONTHLY ITEMS AND FINANCIAL REPORTS

CONSENT AGENDA

NOTE: The Board will be asked to approve all of the following items by a single vote, unless any member of the Board or of the public asks that an item be removed from the consent agenda and considered and discussed separately.

3.1- Approval of Agenda
3.2– Approval of Minutes of the regular meeting of June 14
3.3- Approve Warrants/Payroll
3.3 – Accept Donations to YWECS

HEARING OF PERSONS WISHING TO ADDRESS THE BOARD

The public may address the Board on any matter pertaining to the school that is not on the agenda. There will be no Board discussion and no action will be taken unless listed on a subsequent agenda. Speakers will be limited to 3 minutes.

ACTION ITEMS

APPROVAL OF THE 2022-23 LOCAL CONTROL ACCOUNTABILITY PLAN (LCAP) – INCLUDING THE LOCAL INDICATORS REPORT

Consideration of the 2022-23 LCAP for the Yosemite-Wawona Elementary Charter School

APPROVAL OF THE 2022-23 SCHOOL BUDGET

Consideration of the 2022-23 Budget for the Yosemite-Wawona Elementary Charter School

APPROVAL OF EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS FOR THE TEACHER AND THE CLASSROOM AIDE FOR THE 2022-23 YEAR.

Consideration and action on the addition of a new position for the 2022-23 school year.

AWARDING OF A BID TO REPLACE THE SCHOOL’S ROOF

Consideration and action on the approval of a bid to replace the roof of the school building.
INFORMATION ITEMS

YWECS FUNDRAISER UPDATES

Fundraising activities for YWECS will be discussed.

STAFF REPORTS
BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

Request that various items be placed on the next agenda for discussion and/or action.

NEXT BOARD MEETING

Unless otherwise announced, the next regular meeting of the Board of Directors will be scheduled for Tuesday, August 9 at 5:30 p.m. at the Wawona School.

ADJOURNMENT

Tree Removal Work Starting in Wawona

June 20 - The contractor is moving all the necessary equipment to Wawona today and tomorrow and will be focusing on Wawona for the next several weeks until the job is done. The pine needle piles will be picked up soon.

Snow Creek Trail Closed Due To Snow Fire

Friday, June 17 - Yosemite fire crews responded to a report of a wildland fire on Thursday, June 16, 2022 at approximately 5:45 pm. It is burning west of the Snow Creek Ranger Cabin and estimated to be 13 acres. In addition to Yosemite resources, two crews have been ordered to assist with suppression efforts as well as a type 2 helicopter. A portion of the Snow Creek Trail is closed due to proximity of the fire, please reference the attached map.

Job Vacancy: Library Assistant I/II (Extra Help Only)
Salary: $17.83 Hourly
Location: Mariposa, CA
Job Type: Extra-Help (Part-time)
Department: Library
Job Number: 112

Description

There is an Extra-Help Only (Part-Time) position available for the Mariposa County Library Branch, Wawona.

Only Online Applications will be accepted.

DEFINITION
To perform a variety of responsible, sub-professional library and clerical work in support of daily Library operations; to assist patrons in the use of the Library and related services; and to perform related duties and responsibilities as required.

Library Assistant I is the entry-level classification in the series. Initially under close supervision, incumbents learn and perform a variety of duties related to the circulation, reference, inter-library loan, and collection monitoring operations of the Library. This class is flexibly staffed with Library Assistant II and incumbents normally advance to the higher level after gaining experience and achieving proficiency which meet the requirements for Library Assistant II.

Library Assistant II is the full working level of the series, competent to independently perform the full scope of duties required. Incumbents may provide sub-professional library assistance in specialized areas of library services, such as children's services, inter-library loan processing, circulation, cataloging, reference, or other areas as assigned.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED
Receives direction from the County Librarian.

Exercises lead direction over extra-help and volunteer staff.
Examples of DutiesAssists in planning and implementing Library programs and services.
Prepares newly acquired library materials for processing and shelving.
Performs basic cataloging work.

Performs circulation work, including checking materials in and out of the Library, maintaining circulation statistics, processing returned materials and preparing them for reshelving.
Collects, stacks, shelves and reshelves library materials.
Accepts and receives payments for overdue or lost materials and maintains related records; prepares and processing billings for lost / overdue materials.
Processes library card applications and issues library cards; maintains records of current patron information.
Receives, researches and responds to patrons' reference requests; locates and provides requested materials and information; may refer complex reference questions to professional librarians as necessary.
Assists and instructs patrons in the proper use of library equipment and reference sources.
May provide hands-on support in the maintenance of Internet services and computer equipment used in the Library system; coordinates the maintenance of the on-line computer operating system.
Reserves library materials and notifies patrons of their availability; initiates and processes inter-library loan requests.
Assists in maintaining order and discipline in the Library.
Performs various tasks related to the selection, ordering, purchasing, distribution and use of books and other materials; reviews and recommends the acquisition of new materials for the Library's collection; weeds out-dated materials from the collection.
Monitors the condition of books and materials and performs necessary binding and repairs.
Plans and prepares library displays.
Assists in researching and preparing grant applications for program and project funding.
Receives and responds to inquiries, requests for assistance, concerns and complaints from the public regarding library programs, services and policies.
Prepares and/or assists in preparing a variety of reports and correspondence related to Library operations, including budget and statistical reports, as assigned.
Participates in special projects as assigned.
Provides training and lead direction over extra-help and volunteer staff as assigned.
Assists in maintaining a neat, clean environment for staff and patrons.
Performs general clerical work as required, including preparing reports and correspondence, attending meetings, copying and filing documents, entering and retrieving computer data, answering the telephone, digitizing documents for preservation, etc.

Library Assistant II: (In addition to the above)
Plans and participates in special library programs, classes and services as assigned; assists with program publicity.

Opens, closes and secures Library facility as required.

Minimum QualificationsExperience:
Library Assistant I:
Two years of full-time equivalent clerical experience with some public contact.

Library Assistant II:
Three years of increasingly responsible full-time equivalent sub-professional library experience, or two years as a Library Assistant I in Mariposa County.

Education: (Both Library Assistant I and II)
High school diploma or GED equivalent. Completion of two years of college level course work in literature, liberal arts, library or social science or closely related field is desirable for a Library Assistant I and required for a Library Assistant II. A copy of your college transcript(s) must be attached to your application if qualifying for Library Assistant II.

Substitution: (Library Assistant II)
Additional sub-professional library experience may be substituted on a year-for-year basis for the required college education.

Additional Requirements:
Possession of a valid California driver's license. Under certain circumstances, the Human Resources Director may accept a valid driver's license from another state if applicant acknowledges his/her intent to acquire a California driver's license within three months by signing an acknowledgement form.

This class specification lists the major duties and requirements of the job and is not all-inclusive. Incumbents may be expected to perform job-related duties other than those contained in this document.

Supplemental InformationEMPLOYMENT STANDARDS
Knowledge of:
Library Assistant I:
Report and business letter preparation techniques.
Modern office practices and technology, including the use of computers for data and word processing.
Alphabetical, numerical and topical filing systems.
English usage, spelling, grammar and punctuation.
Basic arithmetic.
General functions and operations of a library.
Library Assistant II: (In addition to the above)
Pertinent laws, regulations, policies and procedures.
Basic principles and methods of library organization, services, technologies and equipment.

Structure and use of the Dewey Decimal classification system.
Basic reference practices and sources.
Library terminology.
Specialized area(s) of library service as assigned.
Information systems and automation systems as applied to library activities.
The use of the Internet for employee / patron research and reference assistance.
Principles of training and leadership.
Safe work practices.
Public / community relations techniques.

Ability to:
Library Assistant I:
Learn, understand and apply pertinent laws, rules, regulations, policies and procedures.
Sort and organize materials in alphabetical, numerical and topical order.
Understand and carry out oral and written instructions.
Type or word process accurately at a rate required for successful job performance.
Effectively use computers for word and data processing, records management.
Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
Prepare clear and concise records and reports.
Perform mathematical computations with accuracy.
Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
Deal effectively with patrons with special needs, or in confrontational situations.
Actively pursue personal professional growth through continuing education.

Library Assistant II: (In addition to the above)

Locate, sort and arrange materials according to the Dewey Decimal classification and other specialized library index systems.
Perform circulation duties and provide basic reference services to Library patrons.
Provide training and leadership as assigned
Effectively use computers for specialized library applications and Internet research.

TYPICAL WORKING CONDITIONS
Work is performed in a normal office / library environment.

TYPICAL PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
Requires the ability to sit at a desk for long periods of time and intermittently walk, stand, stoop, kneel, crouch, climb and reach while performing office duties; lift and/or move weights of up to 40 pounds; use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools or controls. Must be able to maintain effective audio-visual discrimination and perception needed for making observations, communicating with others, reading and writing, and operating office equipment. Must be able to use a telephone to communicate verbally and a keyboard to communicate through written means, to review information and enter/retrieve data, to see and read characters on a computer

THE SELECTION PROCESS
All interested applicants must complete and submit a job application including any required supplemental questionnaires, and attach any required documentation. For those who meet the minimum qualifications, a competitive evaluation of the training and experience described on your application or supplemental questionnaire, a written examination, a structured oral interview, a performance rating, or a combination of any of these, may be performed. You will be scored based on that competitive evaluation. This process may be altered if there are ten or less applicants that qualified.

Agency
Mariposa County
Address
P.O. Box 1917
4988 11th Street, Suite B
Mariposa, California, 95338
Phone
209-742-1379

Website
http://www.mariposacounty.org

Yosemite ranger Yenyen Chan highlights the park’s Chinese American history for visitors.

Welcome to Yosemite’s Chinese Laundry Building
Inside the new monument to Chinese Americans’ contributions to the making of one of America’s most iconic natural expanses
Photos by Al Golub

By Alison Singh Gee - Sierra Magazine | Jun 9 2022
It was October 1, 2021—Yosemite’s 130th anniversary of being designated a national park—and the Sierran valley was so thickly shrouded in smoke from recent wildfires that the silhouettes of the valley’s famed granite monuments faded into hazy outlines, Half Dome effectively reduced to Five Percent Dome. Yet no amount of smoke could keep a collection of 100-plus excited visitors from gathering near an old wood-shingled building just north of the Wawona Hotel. Their mission: to commemorate the opening of the Yosemite Chinese Laundry Building.

Yosemite’s brown-hatted interpretive rangers and Yosemite Conservancy members joined dozens of Asian Americans waving signs that read “Thank you, National Park Service, for telling our story!” The humble structure at the center of the festivities looked like it had been standing in the forest for more than century—because, well, it has. It originally functioned as a hand-laundry building where Chinese workers cleaned and pressed clothing and hotel linens for the Washburns, the family that originally owned the Wawona Hotel. The building went on to serve as a laundering nexus for future fancy park lodgings until it fell into disuse.

The Wawona Golf Course (?) Reopened Today

After a long hiatus the Wawona Golf Course Reopend today. While the greens look OK, the fairways..., well judge for yourself. Still, the course is free of charge at the moment.

Photos courtesy of Trish Peterson

Visit www.doi.gov/oles/doi-law-enforcement-task-force to register for an upcoming public listening session, track project progress, and learn more.

ADDITIONAL INPUT OPPORTUNITIES Can't make it to a listening session? You can also submit comments online at www.regulations.gov (enter DOI-2022-0008 in the search bar) or take a customer satisfaction survey.

YOSEMITE-WAWONA ELEMENTARY CHARTER SCHOOL
Board of Directors Regular Meeting
Tuesday, June 14, 2022
5:30 P.M.
Wawona Elementary School
7925 Chilnualna Falls Road
Wawona, CA

CALL TO ORDER
ROLL CALL

MONTHLY ITEMS AND FINANCIAL REPORTS

CONSENT AGENDA

HEARING OF PERSONS WISHING TO ADDRESS THE BOARD

PUBLIC HEARING OF THE 2022-23 LOCAL CONTROL ACCOUNTABILITY PLAN (LCAP)

Consideration of the 2022-23 LCAP for the Yosemite-Wawona Elementary Charter School

PUBLIC HEARING OF THE 2022-23 SCHOOL BUDGET

Consideration of the 2022-23 Budget for the Yosemite-Wawona Elementary Charter School

APPROVAL OF THE CREATION OF AN INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANT/OFFICE CLERK POSITION FOR THE 2022-23 SCHOOL YEAR.Consideration and action on the addition of a new position for the 2022-23 school year.

APPROVAL OF A SCHOOL CALENDAR FOR 2022-23

Consideration and action on the school calendar for the 2022-23 school year.

APPROVAL OF THE ADDITION OF A GROUNDSKEEPER POSITION FOR THE SUMMER

Consideration and action of the creation of a groundskeeper position for the summer.

INFORMATION ITEMS

YWECS FUNDRAISER UPDATES

Fundraising activities for YWECS will be discussed.

BUILDING AND MAINTENANCE PROJECTS UPDATES

The Board will be updated on the roofing project and the fire alarm installation project.

STAFF REPORTS
BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS

FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

Request that various items be placed on the next agenda for discussion and/or action.

NEXT BOARD MEETING
Unless otherwise announced, the next regular meeting of the Board of Directors will be scheduled for Tuesday, June 21 at 5:30 p.m. at the Wawona School.

ADJOURNMENT

Ranger Presentation on Fire and Emergency Evacuations
June 7, 2022 Community Center

By Trish Peterson, July 10.

Wawona Ranger Heidi Edgecomb gave an excellent presentation, at the Community Center on June 7, about fire and emergency evacuation.  She talked about what to do beforehand, what happens during an evacuation, and what happens after the emergency is over.

Here are highlights:

  What to do beforehand -
   Sign up online for the Emergency Alert Program on Yosemite Everbridge with the Wawona zip code 95389 to get alerts (www.everbridge.com)

Make your home fire-safe - clear debris and flammable things outside, etc.

Make an emergency supply kit for your car - water, food, blankets, etc.

Make a "GO kit" to keep with you if you're gone from your house for an extended time and will be returning - with copies of important papers, medicines etc (in case the emergency occurs while you're gone and can't get back)

   Develop an Action Plan -
  where you can go if you will be evacuating (Friends, family, hotel,etc)

  What to take with you - emergency supply kit, things you will need for at least 3 days, pets and food and meds for them, cell phones and chargers

a plan for what neighbors or friends can bring for you from your home if you're not there

    a plan on your route out with alternate ones, in case your primary route is blocked

  print out or copy the "pre-evacuation preparation steps" found in the Cal Fire guide named "Are You Ready To Go!" ( i am attaching a photo of the list to this email), put it on your refrigerator or by your phone, keys, etc.  Familiarize yourself with it so you will know what will need to be done

Put a sign near the phone at your house with the address of your property to be used for 911 calls or requests from emergency personnel. Many homes now have a “name” and or rental designation, and guests are not familiar with the actual address.

What to do when there is an "evacuation advisory" - this means that evacuation is not mandatory now, but may become mandatory soon - so get ready to go

check your evacuation preparation steps - there is a list that you can print out in the Cal Fire guide

have your emergency kit, supplies, important things, pets etc in your car

if you leave your house during this time, leave a note on the front door on where you are and when you expect to be back

When to leave
Leave as soon as you can - don't wait for the mandatory "evacuation order"
this will help keep the roads clear for emergency vehicles

If you do leave before an emergency person gets to you, leave a note on your front door with your name, cell phone number or emergency contact, when you left the house, and where you've gone. Also say that no one should be in the house if you are the last to leave.

Rangers and emergency personnel will go door-to-door in Wawona (around 530 structures), checking on everyone and giving instructions. There will be checkpoints on the roads, directing you on where to go.

    If you can't get out - cover up to protect yourself from heat and flying embers. Wear long pants and a long sleeved shirt, heavy boots/shoes, a cap, a bandana/scarf for face cover, goggles or glasses.  Go to the golf course.

When there is an "evacuation order" it's mandatory to leave.  If you refuse, you forfeit your right to Park services such as assistance fire fighting or getting out.

Remember - the Rangers and Emergency Personnel are very busy during this time - checking on everyone, getting everyone safe, patrolling the homes for security purposes, taking care of animals left behind, etc. Please do not call constantly for updates during this time.  They will let everyone know as soon as they can about the damage to your house.

Also please do not take photos of damaged homes and areas and post them on social media - how would you feel when you saw your damaged house being streamed to the general public? "NO NEWS IS GOOD NEWS"  If you don't hear anything, that may mean that your home is OK.  The Rangers will call, text, or email you if there is damage, as soon as they can.  They will go to every property to do an assessment.

What happens after the event is over:

Re-entry happens in stages.  Just because the fire is gone, does not mean that you can return to your property. There will probably be a community meeting to explain the process to everyone.
First - the utility companies - electricity and water will come and start repairs, the road crews will repair
Second - permanent residents and property owners who were present before the fire and were evacuated
Third - property owners who have damage to their homes
Fourth - property owners who weren't here
Fifth - public (renters)

When you come back to Wawona, you will need a photo ID and proof of ownership to get in.

Don't come to Wawona if you don't need to until the repairs are well under way and the smoke has dissipated. You will get emails with updates, letting you know what’s going on.

What to Do at your Property when you return

Check for broken propane lines, hazards inside and outside, broken glass. etc. Be alert for downed power lines. Check for hidden embers or smoldering fires.

See more information at www.readyforwildfire.org

Filmmaker Brian Hawkins has recently released “Yosemite Moonbow,” a film about the lunar rainbows the form at night in the waterfalls of Yosemite National Park.

Pile burning in Yosemite Valley June 5

Yosemite fire crews plan on burning approximately 30 piles in Yosemite Valley on Sunday, June 5, 2022. These piles are located along northside drive east of the El Capitan Picnic Area and part of the unit known as YV-15 on the attached map. This work is a continuation of the units we have been treating recently and hope to complete burning in YV-13 and YV-15 sometime this fall. There are no anticipated road or trail closures on Sunday, but there will be smoke visible - please drive slowly and watch for firefighters and equipment.

Thank you for your continued support!

Yosemite Fire Information
[email protected]
go.nps.gov/yosefire
Facebook @YosemiteFire
Twitter @YosemiteFire
Instagram @YosemiteFire

WawonaNews.com - July 2022

Washburn Fire 58% Contained, Agua Fire 20% ContainedVery Little Overnight Growth, If Any, For Both Fires

Residents and Workers Allowed Into Wawona 24 Hours a Day

History of Fires Now Surrounds Wawona

Air Quality In Wawona

Washburn Fire Update: 7/13, 8:00 AM

Giant Sequoias May Be Saved

Yosemite Valley Inundated With Smoke From Washburn Fire

Live View Of Washburn Fire (Daytime Only)

Washburn Fire Update From Wawona District Ranger

Flight Radar Map

Infrared Cal Topo Map of Washburn Fire

Washburn Fire Cam Update 7:46 AM - July 8

Washburn Fire Update: July 11, 25% Containment

Giant Sequoias May Be Saved

Video Update From Yosemite Fire And Aviation

Yosemite Valley Inundated With Smoke From Washburn Fire

Live View Of Washburn Fire (Daytime Only)

Washburn Fire Update From Wawona District Ranger

Flight Radar Map

Infrared Cal Topo Map of Washburn Fire

Washburn Fire Cam Update 7:46 AM - July 8

Hootenanny at the Pine Tree Market

Ranger Presentation on Fire and Emergency Evacuations June 7, 2022 Community Center

Washburn Fire 58% Contained, Agua Fire 20% Contained
Very Little Overnight Growth, If Any, For Both Fires

Ranger Presentation on Fire and Emergency Evacuations
June 7, 2022 Community Center