WawonaNews.com - November 2017
Fire Update October 27th, 2017
Several fires remain visible throughout Yosemite National Park's wilderness.
Fire Managers are working with the local Air Quality Districts and will be monitoring smoke impacts to the park and local communities.
Last weekend the system that moved through offered a respite from the smoky conditions. We are now experiencing a strong stable air mass over the area bringing warmer temperatures and lower humidity that will likely continue throughout the week. Drift smoke may flow down into the valley in the mornings which will be compounded with campfires in the valley until the morning inversion lifts.
Fires in Yosemite during 2017
1 Prescribed (8 Acres – Soupbowl)
12 fires that were human caused and suppressed.
22 lightning fires: 12 burned themselves out, 5 suppressed and declared out, 5 active.
Empire
Discovered: 7/31/17
Location: East of Glacier Point Road, primarily in the Illilouette Basin.
Size: 8,094 acres Cause: Lightning Containment: 85% Fuels: Red fir
Moving east deeper into the wilderness. Backing through past fire scars towards the Illilouette basin. This area has shrubs and heavier dead and down fuel which may produce moderate smoke. The trajectory of the fire will likely take it in the direction of sparser fuels and higher elevation in the coming week, which should reduce smoke production.
Visible from vistas along the Glacier Point road
South Fork
Discovered: 8/13/17
Location: .75 miles east of the community of Wawona
Size: 7,564 acres Cause: Lightning Containment: 90% Fuels: Mixed conifer and red fir
Fire activity has been minimal this week. There is currently no smoke or activity where the progression halted at Johnson Creek. There is minimal activity on the eastern flank N.E. of Chilnualna Creek.
Starr King
Discovered: 8/2/17
Location: N 37° 42.965' x W 119° 29.588' at approximately 7800 feet elevation
Size: 75 acres Cause: Lightning Spread Potential: Low/ Moderate
Fuels: Red fir/ Lodgepole. Creeping and smoldering on the eastern edge. Strategy: Monitor
Visible from the Glacier Point Road.
Porcupine
Discovered: 8/2/17
Location: N 37° 49.336' x W 119° 34.720' at approximately 8154 feet elevation off Tioga road.
Size: 9 acres Cause: Lightning Spread Potential: Low
Fuels: creeping: burning in duff and dead and down in Lodgepole/Red fir
Strategy: Monitor
Visible burning next to the Tioga road.
Ribbon
Discovered: 9/26/17
Location: 37 45.3 by119 38.5 at approximately 8154 feet elevation off Tioga road.
Size: 2 Acres Cause: Lightning Spread Potential: Low
Fuels: Low brush, no active growth Strategy: Monitor
Visible from Sentinel Dome and Glacier Point
These fires are burning in designated Wilderness. Lightning ignited fires In Wilderness are often allowed to burn if they do not threaten developed areas. The Yosemite Wilderness is a fire adapted ecosystem where past fire suppression has resulted in unnaturally high fuel levels. Allowing fires to burn unimpeded produces a healthier, more diverse forest and helps reduce the severity of future fires.
Attached are a few images:
heat map of the Empire Fire
areal view of Empire Fire
Areal view of one of the fingers of the S. Fork (cold) near Johnson Creek.
--
Yosemite Fire and Aviation Information
[email protected]
209-379-1493
Fire Managers are working with the local Air Quality Districts and will be monitoring smoke impacts to the park and local communities.
Last weekend the system that moved through offered a respite from the smoky conditions. We are now experiencing a strong stable air mass over the area bringing warmer temperatures and lower humidity that will likely continue throughout the week. Drift smoke may flow down into the valley in the mornings which will be compounded with campfires in the valley until the morning inversion lifts.
Fires in Yosemite during 2017
1 Prescribed (8 Acres – Soupbowl)
12 fires that were human caused and suppressed.
22 lightning fires: 12 burned themselves out, 5 suppressed and declared out, 5 active.
Empire
Discovered: 7/31/17
Location: East of Glacier Point Road, primarily in the Illilouette Basin.
Size: 8,094 acres Cause: Lightning Containment: 85% Fuels: Red fir
Moving east deeper into the wilderness. Backing through past fire scars towards the Illilouette basin. This area has shrubs and heavier dead and down fuel which may produce moderate smoke. The trajectory of the fire will likely take it in the direction of sparser fuels and higher elevation in the coming week, which should reduce smoke production.
Visible from vistas along the Glacier Point road
South Fork
Discovered: 8/13/17
Location: .75 miles east of the community of Wawona
Size: 7,564 acres Cause: Lightning Containment: 90% Fuels: Mixed conifer and red fir
Fire activity has been minimal this week. There is currently no smoke or activity where the progression halted at Johnson Creek. There is minimal activity on the eastern flank N.E. of Chilnualna Creek.
Starr King
Discovered: 8/2/17
Location: N 37° 42.965' x W 119° 29.588' at approximately 7800 feet elevation
Size: 75 acres Cause: Lightning Spread Potential: Low/ Moderate
Fuels: Red fir/ Lodgepole. Creeping and smoldering on the eastern edge. Strategy: Monitor
Visible from the Glacier Point Road.
Porcupine
Discovered: 8/2/17
Location: N 37° 49.336' x W 119° 34.720' at approximately 8154 feet elevation off Tioga road.
Size: 9 acres Cause: Lightning Spread Potential: Low
Fuels: creeping: burning in duff and dead and down in Lodgepole/Red fir
Strategy: Monitor
Visible burning next to the Tioga road.
Ribbon
Discovered: 9/26/17
Location: 37 45.3 by119 38.5 at approximately 8154 feet elevation off Tioga road.
Size: 2 Acres Cause: Lightning Spread Potential: Low
Fuels: Low brush, no active growth Strategy: Monitor
Visible from Sentinel Dome and Glacier Point
These fires are burning in designated Wilderness. Lightning ignited fires In Wilderness are often allowed to burn if they do not threaten developed areas. The Yosemite Wilderness is a fire adapted ecosystem where past fire suppression has resulted in unnaturally high fuel levels. Allowing fires to burn unimpeded produces a healthier, more diverse forest and helps reduce the severity of future fires.
Attached are a few images:
heat map of the Empire Fire
areal view of Empire Fire
Areal view of one of the fingers of the S. Fork (cold) near Johnson Creek.
--
Yosemite Fire and Aviation Information
[email protected]
209-379-1493
Versatile Photo
Silver Lake, October 25th, 2017
One-Day, One-Way Traffic Control On Hwy. 41 Near Yosemite
Posted by: Kellie Flanagan October 23, 2017 - 2:34 pm 0 1,226 Views
MARIPOSA COUNTY — Caltrans work north of Oakhurst near Yosemite National Park originally scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 25 has been rescheduled to Thursday, Oct. 26, per Caltrans.
The work may result in delays of 10 minutes or longer.
The Department of Transportation (Caltrans) announces one-way traffic control is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 26 on State Route 41 in Mariposa County north of Oakhurst, about ½ mile south of the Yosemite National Park entrance. Construction crews will be performing slope repair and stabilization in the affected area.
The following closure will be in effect, weather permitting:
- One-way traffic control on State Route 41 in Mariposa County about ½ mile south of the Yosemite National Park entrance on Thursday, Oct. 26 between the hours of 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.
- Delays of up to 10 minutes are possible, and depending on traffic volumes, delays may extend longer.
Commuters are reminded to obey flagging personnel, stay behind the pilot vehicle and pay close attention to road construction vehicles. Commuters are encouraged to allow additional travel time and use alternate routes if possible.
Caltrans would like to thank residents and commuters for their patience during this project and remember to please “Slow for the Cone Zone.”
NOTE: This article was updated on Tuesday, Oct. 24 to reflect a reschedule of events.
Park Service Proposes More Than Doubling Entrance Fees
(CNN) — The National Park Service proposes more than doubling the entrance fees at 17 popular national parks, including Grand Canyon, Yosemite, and Yellowstone, to help pay for infrastructure improvements.
Under the agency's proposal, the entrance fee for a private vehicle would jump to $70 during peak season, from its current rate of $25 to $30.
The cost for a motorcycle entering the park could increase to $50, from the current fee of $15 to $25. The cost for people entering the park on foot or on bike could go to $30, up from the current rate of $10 to $15.
The cost of the annual pass, which permits entrance into all federal lands and parks, would remain at $80.
The proposal would affect the following 17 national parks during the 2018 peak season:
- Arches
- Bryce Canyon
- Canyonlands
- Denali
- Glacier
- Grand Canyon
- Grand Teton
- Olympic
- Sequoia & Kings Canyon
- Yellowstone
- Yosemite
- Zion
- Acadia
- Mount Rainier
- Rocky Mountain
- Shenandoah
- Joshua Tree
Peak pricing would affect each park's busiest five months for visitors.
The National Park Service said the increase would help pay for badly needed improvements, including to roads, bridges, campgrounds, waterlines, bathrooms and other visitor services at the parks. The fee hikes could also boost national park revenue by $70 million per year, it said.
"The infrastructure of our national parks is aging and in need of renovation and restoration," Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke said in a statement.
Of the 417 national park sites, 118 charge an entrance fee.
The National Park service has opened the proposal to public comments for 30 days at its website.
The proposal was blasted by the National Parks Conservation Association, a nonpartisan advocacy group.
"We should not increase fees to such a degree as to make these places -- protected for all Americans to experience -- unaffordable for some families to visit," the group's president and CEO Theresa Pierno said in a statement. "The solution to our parks' repair needs cannot and should not be largely shouldered by its visitors."
"The administration just proposed a major cut to the National Park Service budget even as parks struggle with billions of dollars in needed repairs," Pierno said. "If the administration wants to support national parks, it needs to walk the walk and work with Congress to address the maintenance backlog."
On the National Park Service's Facebook page, some commented that the proposal was reasonable since it was going to improve and maintain the parks. Others lamented that it would price working class people out of making trips that they had saved up for.
Entrance fees at several national parks, including Mount Rainer, Grand Teton and Yellowstone, went up in 2015 to their current price.
Those fee increases didn't seem to deter visitors. In 2016, National Park Services received a record-breaking 331 million visits, which marked a 7.7% increase over 2015. It was the park service's third consecutive all-time attendance record.
Most popular National Parks in 2016 (59 total)
Great Smoky Mountains National Park -- 11,312,786 million visitors
Grand Canyon National Park -- 5,969,811
Yosemite National Park -- 5,028,868
Rocky Mountain National Park -- 4,517,585
Zion National Park -- 4,295,127
Yellowstone National Park -- 4,257,177
Olympic National Park -- 3,390,221
Acadia National Park -- 3,303,393
Grand Teton National Park -- 3,270,076
Glacier National Park -- 2,946,681
CNN's Katia Hetter contributed to this report.
One-Day, One-Way Traffic Control On Hwy. 41 Near South Entrance
Posted by: Kellie Flanagan October 23, 2017 -
MARIPOSA COUNTY — Drivers on Highway 41 near Yosemite may be in for delays of 10 minutes or longer for one day this week.
The Department of Transportation (Caltrans) announces one-way traffic control is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 25 on State Route 41 in Mariposa County north of Oakhurst, about ½ mile south of the Yosemite National Park entrance. Construction crews will be performing slope repair and stabilization in the affected area.
The following closure will be in effect, weather permitting:
- One-way traffic control on State Route 41 in Mariposa County about ½ mile south of the Yosemite National Park entrance on Wednesday, Oct. 25 between the hours of 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.
- Delays of up to 10 minutes are possible, and depending on traffic volumes, delays may extend longer.
Commuters are reminded to obey flagging personnel, stay behind the pilot vehicle and pay close attention to road construction vehicles. Commuters are encouraged to allow additional travel time and use alternate routes if possible.
Caltrans would like to thank residents and commuters for their patience during this project and remember to please “Slow for the Cone Zone.”
Wawona Woodlot Closed To All Dumping
The Wawona woodlot/debris pile is now closed to all dumping of vegetation debris, and woodstove ashes. The situation in the woodlot is very dangerous. The woodlot is overflowing and the log decks have exceeded capacity. The vegetation debris pile has made the situation worse.
Effectively immediately, the NPS will not allow dumping in the woodlot until further notice. PG&E will be bringing in a tub grinder to start chipping the logs, as well as hauling logs off that can be salvaged for lumber. After the woodlot has been reduced of its log capacity, then we will look at possibly allowing debris to be placed there.
The other issue is fire hazard. On the morning of October 20th, someone dumped hot woodstove ashes next to the logging deck, which caught fire. Had it not rained during the night, the entire woodlot may have caught fire, creating a huge fire hazard to the community.
Ash dumping will no longer be allowed in the Woodlot. Property owners will need to safely dispose of cold ashes. Ashes should be placed in a metal bucket and allowed to cool off. They should also be cooled by pouring water into the bucket, as hot coals can simmer in the metal bucket for days.
Thank you for your cooperation, we realize this will be an inconvenience for vegetation disposal.
--
Eric Scott
Wawona District Ranger
Yosemite National Park
Office: (209) 375-9520
Effectively immediately, the NPS will not allow dumping in the woodlot until further notice. PG&E will be bringing in a tub grinder to start chipping the logs, as well as hauling logs off that can be salvaged for lumber. After the woodlot has been reduced of its log capacity, then we will look at possibly allowing debris to be placed there.
The other issue is fire hazard. On the morning of October 20th, someone dumped hot woodstove ashes next to the logging deck, which caught fire. Had it not rained during the night, the entire woodlot may have caught fire, creating a huge fire hazard to the community.
Ash dumping will no longer be allowed in the Woodlot. Property owners will need to safely dispose of cold ashes. Ashes should be placed in a metal bucket and allowed to cool off. They should also be cooled by pouring water into the bucket, as hot coals can simmer in the metal bucket for days.
Thank you for your cooperation, we realize this will be an inconvenience for vegetation disposal.
--
Eric Scott
Wawona District Ranger
Yosemite National Park
Office: (209) 375-9520
Feeling A Little Bored? Here's An Option
Wawona Trails Reopen After South Fork Fire
|
Both the Swinging Bridge Trail and the Chilnualna Falls Trails are open, as are the other trails impacted by the South Fork and Empire Fire. EXCEPTION- Mono Meadow Trail is still closed.
-- Eric Scott Wawona District Ranger Yosemite National Park Office: (209) 375-9520 Cell: (209) 216-9656 |
Prescription Fire Postponed
Prescription Fire Update October 15, 2017
Prescription fire update
Yesterday Yosemite Fire managers postponed the prescription burns in the Mariposa Grove and the Soupbowl.
The decision was based on prescription factors such as: relative humidity, fuel moisture content, air quality, possible winds and resource availability. A dry stable air mass with low relative humidity was the primary driver for being out of prescription yesterday.
Prescribed fire is a very important tool for reducing excessive fuel build up near our communities in order to reduce severity of future fires. When the conditions are right, we hope to proceed with these prescribed fires.
--
Yosemite Fire and Aviation Information
[email protected]
209-379-1493
Prescription fire update
Yesterday Yosemite Fire managers postponed the prescription burns in the Mariposa Grove and the Soupbowl.
The decision was based on prescription factors such as: relative humidity, fuel moisture content, air quality, possible winds and resource availability. A dry stable air mass with low relative humidity was the primary driver for being out of prescription yesterday.
Prescribed fire is a very important tool for reducing excessive fuel build up near our communities in order to reduce severity of future fires. When the conditions are right, we hope to proceed with these prescribed fires.
--
Yosemite Fire and Aviation Information
[email protected]
209-379-1493
Fall Prescribed Fire Projects
October 13, 2017 Update
Yosemite National Park is grateful to our Firewise communities who support the use of prescribed fire. Given the long summer of wildfires this year, the park appreciates your understanding that prescribed fires also have a place on our landscapes during the fall, winter, and spring seasons. Prescribed fire is a very important tool for reducing excessive fuel build up near our communities in order to reduce severity of future fires.
Yosemite National Park fire managers are planning two prescribed fires with ignitions starting on October 14th in the Mariposa Grove, weather conditions and air quality permitting, and continuing in Soupbowl for the week of October 15th. Air quality is a prime factor in moving forward with these prescribed fires.
Mariposa Grove
This project includes two small burn units that total 84 acres. Burning in the Mariposa Grove is a continuous process; the targeted areas have had 1-3 prescribed fires in the past 30 years. Continued burning is required to maintain a healthy forest ecosystem. Fire produces the optimum conditions for Giant Sequoia regeneration. Fire not only removes the accumulated layers of dead woody debris exposing nutrient rich mineral soil, but is needed to dry the cones and allow the seeds to shed. In addition, by reducing the number of trees and undergrowth, wildfire opens up the forest canopy and reduces shade-tolerant competition.
The Mariposa Grove is still closed for restoration which provides fire managers the opportunity to conduct prescribed fire.
Soupbowl
2-3 land segments ranging from 103 acres to 174 acres are being considered for a prescribed burn in the Unit 26 Soupbowl B project area along the Wawona Road (Highway 41 corridor).
The primary objective is to reduce hazardous vegetation (fuel) around the Wildland Urban Interface community of Wawona and park infrastructure at the South Entrance. Prescribed fire will help create a continuous fuel break by linking other recent wildfire areas with reduced fuels, mechanical thinning projects, and previous prescribed fires. This project will also reduce the threat of wildfires originating along Highway 41 that could adversely impact the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias.
Traffic control will be in place during burn operations and delays should be short. Please use caution when entering and exiting for firefighter safety.
WTREX (Women in Fire Prescribed Fire Training Exchange) will be integrating with Yosemite Fire on these prescribed burns. Expect to see a high percentage of women firefighters from various federal and state agencies doing prescribed fire preparation and burn operations. Currently only 10% of wildland fire positions are filled by women. In this 12 day training 90% of the participants are women. They will be engaging in all aspects of the prescribed burn operations.
Smoke will be present during prescribed fire and in the Wawona area. Fire managers are working with the Mariposa County Air Pollution Control District (MCAPD) to time the projects to coincide with favorable weather and smoke dispersion conditions. Smoke, affecting health, is always a consideration in the decision to schedule prescribed fires. A smoke management plan has been submitted to the MCAPCD, and a burn permit has been issued for both burn units. A smoke monitor will be placed in nearby communities to monitor smoke.
For additional Information:
· Fire Information: [email protected], (209) 379-1493
· Yosemite National Park Fire Information website: http://www.nps.gov/yose/blogs/fireinfo.htm
· Facebook: Search-- Yosemite Fire and Aviation: @YosemiteFire
· Twitter: Search @YosemiteFire https://twitter.com/YosemiteFire
· Air Quality: https://www.nps.gov/yose/learn/nature/aqmonitoring.htm
· Current fire and air quality conditions: https://airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=topics.smoke_wildfires
--
Yosemite Fire and Aviation Information
[email protected]
209-379-1493
--
Yosemite Fire and Aviation Information
[email protected]
209-379-1493
Yosemite National Park fire managers are planning two prescribed fires with ignitions starting on October 14th in the Mariposa Grove, weather conditions and air quality permitting, and continuing in Soupbowl for the week of October 15th. Air quality is a prime factor in moving forward with these prescribed fires.
Mariposa Grove
This project includes two small burn units that total 84 acres. Burning in the Mariposa Grove is a continuous process; the targeted areas have had 1-3 prescribed fires in the past 30 years. Continued burning is required to maintain a healthy forest ecosystem. Fire produces the optimum conditions for Giant Sequoia regeneration. Fire not only removes the accumulated layers of dead woody debris exposing nutrient rich mineral soil, but is needed to dry the cones and allow the seeds to shed. In addition, by reducing the number of trees and undergrowth, wildfire opens up the forest canopy and reduces shade-tolerant competition.
The Mariposa Grove is still closed for restoration which provides fire managers the opportunity to conduct prescribed fire.
Soupbowl
2-3 land segments ranging from 103 acres to 174 acres are being considered for a prescribed burn in the Unit 26 Soupbowl B project area along the Wawona Road (Highway 41 corridor).
The primary objective is to reduce hazardous vegetation (fuel) around the Wildland Urban Interface community of Wawona and park infrastructure at the South Entrance. Prescribed fire will help create a continuous fuel break by linking other recent wildfire areas with reduced fuels, mechanical thinning projects, and previous prescribed fires. This project will also reduce the threat of wildfires originating along Highway 41 that could adversely impact the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias.
Traffic control will be in place during burn operations and delays should be short. Please use caution when entering and exiting for firefighter safety.
WTREX (Women in Fire Prescribed Fire Training Exchange) will be integrating with Yosemite Fire on these prescribed burns. Expect to see a high percentage of women firefighters from various federal and state agencies doing prescribed fire preparation and burn operations. Currently only 10% of wildland fire positions are filled by women. In this 12 day training 90% of the participants are women. They will be engaging in all aspects of the prescribed burn operations.
Smoke will be present during prescribed fire and in the Wawona area. Fire managers are working with the Mariposa County Air Pollution Control District (MCAPD) to time the projects to coincide with favorable weather and smoke dispersion conditions. Smoke, affecting health, is always a consideration in the decision to schedule prescribed fires. A smoke management plan has been submitted to the MCAPCD, and a burn permit has been issued for both burn units. A smoke monitor will be placed in nearby communities to monitor smoke.
For additional Information:
· Fire Information: [email protected], (209) 379-1493
· Yosemite National Park Fire Information website: http://www.nps.gov/yose/blogs/fireinfo.htm
· Facebook: Search-- Yosemite Fire and Aviation: @YosemiteFire
· Twitter: Search @YosemiteFire https://twitter.com/YosemiteFire
· Air Quality: https://www.nps.gov/yose/learn/nature/aqmonitoring.htm
· Current fire and air quality conditions: https://airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=topics.smoke_wildfires
--
Yosemite Fire and Aviation Information
[email protected]
209-379-1493
--
Yosemite Fire and Aviation Information
[email protected]
209-379-1493
Insect Spraying at Wawona School
Prescribed Fires Planned for Wawona Area
Yosemite National Park is grateful to our Firewise communities who support the use of prescribed fire. Given the long summer of wildfires this year, the park appreciates your understanding that prescribed fires also have a place on our landscapes during the fall, winter, and spring seasons. Prescribed fire is a very important tool for reducing excessive fuel build up near our communities in order to reduce severity of future fires.
Yosemite National Park fire managers are planning two prescribed fires with planned ignitions starting on October 14th in the Mariposa Grove, weather conditions permitting, and continuing in Soupbowl for the week of October 15th. The amount of acres to be considered is based on air quality the day of planned ignition.
Mariposa Grove: This project includes two small burn units that total 84 acres. Burning in the Mariposa Grove is a continuous process; the targeted areas have had 1-3 prescribed fires in the past 30 years. Continued burning is required to maintain a healthy forest ecosystem. Fire produces the optimum conditions for Giant Sequoia regeneration. Fire not only removes the accumulated layers of dead woody debris exposing nutrient rich mineral soil, but is needed to dry the cones and allow the seeds to shed. In addition, by reducing the number of trees and undergrowth, wildfire opens up the forest canopy and reduces shade-tolerant competition.The Mariposa Grove is still closed for restoration which provides fire managers the opportunity to conduct prescribed fire.
Soupbowl: 2-3 land segments ranging from 103 acres to 174 acres are being considered for a prescribed burn in the Unit 26 Soupbowl B project area along the Wawona Road (Highway 41 corridor).
The primary objective is to reduce hazardous vegetation (fuel) around the Wildland Urban Interface community of Wawona and park infrastructure at the South Entrance. Prescribed fire will help create a continuous fuel break by linking other recent wildfire areas with reduced fuels, mechanical thinning projects, and previous prescribed fires. This project will also reduce the threat of wildfires originating along Highway 41 that could adversely impact the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias.
Park employees, community members, and visitors can expect to see crews from various federal and state agencies working along the Highway 41 corridor doing prescribed fire preparation and burn operations. Traffic control will be in place during burn operations and delays should be short. Please use caution when entering and exiting for firefighter safety.
Smoke will be present during prescribed fire and in the Wawona area. Fire managers are working with the Mariposa County Air Pollution Control District (MCAPD) to time the projects to coincide with favorable weather and smoke dispersion conditions. Smoke, affecting health, is always a consideration in the decision to schedule prescribed fires. A smoke management plan has been submitted to the MCAPCD, and a burn permit has been issued for both burn units. A smoke monitor will be placed in nearby communities to monitor smoke.
Weather conditions: High pressure will slowly build over the region for the next few days. A slow warming and drying trend will continue with winds remaining mainly terrain driven. By Friday easterly winds will develop resulting in further drying.
For additional Information:
Yosemite Fire and Aviation Information
[email protected]
209-379-1493
Yosemite National Park fire managers are planning two prescribed fires with planned ignitions starting on October 14th in the Mariposa Grove, weather conditions permitting, and continuing in Soupbowl for the week of October 15th. The amount of acres to be considered is based on air quality the day of planned ignition.
Mariposa Grove: This project includes two small burn units that total 84 acres. Burning in the Mariposa Grove is a continuous process; the targeted areas have had 1-3 prescribed fires in the past 30 years. Continued burning is required to maintain a healthy forest ecosystem. Fire produces the optimum conditions for Giant Sequoia regeneration. Fire not only removes the accumulated layers of dead woody debris exposing nutrient rich mineral soil, but is needed to dry the cones and allow the seeds to shed. In addition, by reducing the number of trees and undergrowth, wildfire opens up the forest canopy and reduces shade-tolerant competition.The Mariposa Grove is still closed for restoration which provides fire managers the opportunity to conduct prescribed fire.
Soupbowl: 2-3 land segments ranging from 103 acres to 174 acres are being considered for a prescribed burn in the Unit 26 Soupbowl B project area along the Wawona Road (Highway 41 corridor).
The primary objective is to reduce hazardous vegetation (fuel) around the Wildland Urban Interface community of Wawona and park infrastructure at the South Entrance. Prescribed fire will help create a continuous fuel break by linking other recent wildfire areas with reduced fuels, mechanical thinning projects, and previous prescribed fires. This project will also reduce the threat of wildfires originating along Highway 41 that could adversely impact the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias.
Park employees, community members, and visitors can expect to see crews from various federal and state agencies working along the Highway 41 corridor doing prescribed fire preparation and burn operations. Traffic control will be in place during burn operations and delays should be short. Please use caution when entering and exiting for firefighter safety.
Smoke will be present during prescribed fire and in the Wawona area. Fire managers are working with the Mariposa County Air Pollution Control District (MCAPD) to time the projects to coincide with favorable weather and smoke dispersion conditions. Smoke, affecting health, is always a consideration in the decision to schedule prescribed fires. A smoke management plan has been submitted to the MCAPCD, and a burn permit has been issued for both burn units. A smoke monitor will be placed in nearby communities to monitor smoke.
Weather conditions: High pressure will slowly build over the region for the next few days. A slow warming and drying trend will continue with winds remaining mainly terrain driven. By Friday easterly winds will develop resulting in further drying.
For additional Information:
- Fire Information: [email protected], (209) 379-1493
- Yosemite National Park Fire Information website: http://www.nps.gov/yose/blogs/fireinfo.htm
- Facebook: Search-- Yosemite Fire and Aviation: @YosemiteFire
- Twitter: Search @YosemiteFire https://twitter.com/YosemiteFire
- Air Quality: https://www.nps.gov/yose/learn/nature/aqmonitoring.htm
- Current fire and air quality conditions: https://airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=topics.smoke_wildfires
Yosemite Fire and Aviation Information
[email protected]
209-379-1493
Re-listed: 7989 Koon Hollar Rd.
