Boundary Fire - August 24, 2006

Fire Status: Active

Location: Yosemite National Park                                 Percent Contained: 45%

Acres Burned: 498                                                       Date Started: August 21, 2006 (1500 Hours)   

Cause:  Human Caused- Escaped Campfire                    Injuries:  1 Minor                                                           

Resources:       Hand crews 13                                       Engines  2 

Helicopters  5                                        Water Tenders  0

Air Tankers 6                                         Dozers   0

Total personnel assigned to fire: 385

The Boundary Fire was discovered on August 21, 2006 and is being aggressively suppressed by fire crews. Southern California Interagency Management Team (Type 2) assumed command of the fire on August 23, 2006 at 0600 hours. Visitors and residents should expect to see and smell smoke from this fire throughout the park and in the surrounding communities. This fire is located less than 1 mile north of Ribbon Falls, 1/2 miles northwest of the summit of El Capitan and spreading north/northeast through the Blue Jay Creek drainage. The Boundary Fire is burning in red fir and Lodgepole Pine. Firefighters continue to make good progress construct containment line and mop up hot spots.

Incident Priorities:

q          To provide for public and firefighter safety and protection of property and park resources.

q          Be sensitive to the concerns of the public and communities at risk and keep them informed.

q          Protect threatened and endangered species, sensitive habitats and heritage resources.

q          Keep suppression costs commensurate with values at risk.

q          Provide timely public information on any increasing smoke conditions as a result of the fire

Weather, Fire Behavior and smoke Conditions:

Low humidity’s, high temperatures, and upslope winds remain a concern for increased fire activity.

Agencies Involved:

National Park Service (NPS) US Forest Service (USFS), California Dept. of Forestry & Fire Protection (CDF), Bureau of Land Management (BLM),

Due to the Boundary Fire the following trailheads to El Capitan are closed:

Ø          The Old Big Oak Flat Road Trail from Tamarack Flat Campground east to Yosemite Creek Trail

Ø          The Old Big Oak Flat Road trailhead at Foresta 

Ø          The Yosemite Creek Trail south of the Yosemite Creek Campground

Ø          The Lukens Lake Trail south of Tioga Road

Visitors to park can still access Upper Yosemite Falls from Yosemite Valley

Due to the Frog Complex, trail closures are in effect for public safety concerns. These closures are:

Ø          The Laurel Lake basin. This closure includes the Miguel Meadow to Laurel Lake Trail

Ø          The Beehive Meadow Trail above the Hetch Hetchy switchbacks to Lake Vernon

Ø          The Lake Vernon trail to Laurel Lake

Ø          The Moraine Ridge Trail to Paradise Junction

Due to the Middle T Fire, trail closures are in effect for public safety concerns. These closures are:

Ø          The historic Great Sierra Wagon Road (between White Wolf and Aspen Valley)

Ø          The Harden Lake Trail

Middle T Fire (*7/21) is located 3 miles east of Aspen Valley on the north side of the Middle Fork of the Tuolumne River and near the historic Great Sierra Wagon Road (between White Wolf and Aspen Valley). This fire was being managed as a wildland fire use fire for resource benefit. Confinement actions utilizing existing trails, natural barriers and minimal, low impact fire line construction were implemented to limit fire growth. These confinement lines held for over a month, however afternoon winds pushed the fire over the constructed fireline and into heavier timber fuels. Fire Managers have made the decision to suppress this fire due to smoke concerns. It currently totals 425 acres.

The following lightning-ignited fires are being managed for ecological benefit. Fire managers use natural lightning-ignited fires to reintroduce fire to the ecosystem and reduce the risk of catastrophic fire.

(*) Indicates the date the fire was detected.

Frog Complex Fires (The following fires are being managed as the Frog Complex)

·           Laurel Fire/ Frog Fire (*7/21) have burned together and currently total 3,500 acres. These fires are located in the Hetch Hetchy area. Low intensity ground fire continues to provide maximum benefit for the resources. These fires continue to spread to the northeast with good daily smoke dispersal. To help reduce smoke production the Laurel Fire is being held along Frog Creek on the southwest perimeter and along the Beehive Trail on the southeast perimeter.

·           Falls Fire (*6/28) perimeter is currently inactive with some interior smoke still visible.

Double Rock Fire (*7/17) is currently inactive.

Lukens Fire (*7/17) is currently inactive.

King Fire (*7/18) is located 2 miles east of Mount Starr King. It is currently 55 acres, burning in sparse bushes and down logs. Light smoke production from this fire may be visible from Glacier Point and the summit of Half Dome.

Southern California Interagency Incident Command Team #2 - Ron Woychak, Incident Commander