Fire officials are continuing to monitor several lightening-caused fires in Yosemite National Park. Approximately nine fires are currently considered active in areas around the park, consisting of about 100 total acres. These fires are currently being allowed to spread naturally, although selected fires are being confined using natural barriers and minimum impact fireline construction.

For public safety the Laurel Lakes basin is currently closed. This closure includes the Miguel Meadow to Laurel Lake Trail. Additionally, hikers may encounter active fire, firefighters, and equipment along the historic Great Sierra Wagon Road (between White Wolf and Aspen Valley). Visitors to the area are asked to use caution while traveling in these areas. All other park areas are open with no restrictions.

Visitors and residents in the areas surrounding the fires may see increased smoke effects in the coming weeks. The National Park Service is committed to reducing smoke impacts for visitors and residents and is making every effort to provide current information so visitors may plan their stay accordingly.

Yosemite uses natural (wildland fire use) and prescribed fires to help maintain, or restore, the health of the forest as well as to reduce the risk of more destructive, smokier, and costlier fires in the future. Natural lightning strike fires (like those currently burning) provide park managers the opportunity to bring back fire as a natural process in the wilderness areas of Yosemite National Park.

Prior to fire suppression, it is estimated that historically, on average, 16,000 of Yosemite?s 747,000 acres may have burned under natural conditions each year.

For more information, please contact the Fire Information Office at 209/372-0491 or visit the park website at www.nps.gov/yose/fire for information about fire and smoke effects.
 

Yosemite Fire Information Update #10 - July 26, 2006

There are currently ten wildland fire use fires burning in Yosemite. Due to the national shortage of wildland fire use personal and the hot, dry weather Yosemite’s fire managers have made the decision to implement containment actions on several fires that would normally be allowed to spread naturally for resource benefit. The May Fire, discovered this morning, is being suppressed and is expected to be contained today. Confinement actions are being applied to the Middle T Fire and the Falls Fire to ensure a manageable fire use work load. The Frog Complex continues to show growth and is being allowed to spread naturally. All wildland fire use fires are routinely monitored to ensure that the programs goals are met. Thunderstorms are forecasted thru the end of this week and fire mangers are anticipating additional lightning strikes with possible new fire starts.

For public safety, due to the Frog Complex, the Laurel Lakes basin is closed. This closure includes the Miguel Meadow to Laurel Lake trail.

Due to The Middle T fire, hikers may encounter active fire, firefighters and equipment along the historic Great Sierra Wagon Road (between White wolf and Aspen Valley) please use caution while traveling in this area.

Visitors may see smoke from these fires.

(*) Indicates the date the fire was detected

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

·     Miguel Fire (*7/23) has been contained (7/25/06).

·     Laurel Fire (*7/21) is located 1 mile west, south west of Laurel Lake. It is currently 15 acres and burning in mixed conifers with moderate to high potential for growth. This fire may be visible from Lake Eleanor.

·     Frog Fire (*7/21) is located 2 miles north from Laurel Lake in the Frog Creek drainage. It is currently 7 acres. This fire is burning in red and white fir with moderate potential for growth. 

·     May Fire (*7/26) is located between May Lake High Sierra Camp and the Tioga Road. It is currently 50’x50’, confinement actions are being applied to ensure a manageable fire use work load. This fire is expected to be contained by today (7/26/06).

·     Bart Fire (*7/24) is located near Bartlett Creek, ½ mile north of Flora Lake. It is currently ¼ of an acre burning in brush and dead and down fuels. This fire is surrounded by natural barriers with low potential for growth

·     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). It is currently 20 acres, confinement actions are being applied to ensure a manageable fire use work load.

·     Kibbie Fire (*7/22) is located ½ mile west of Kibbie Lake. It is currently 15 feet by 15 feet (15’x15’) burning in brush surrounded by natural barriers. This fire has low potential for growth.

·     King Fire (*7/18) is located 2 miles east of Mount Starr King. It is currently 50 feet by 50 feet (50’x50’) burning in sparse bushes and down logs. This fire has low potential for growth.

·     Falls Fire (*6/28) is located two miles north of Hetch Hetchy, and east of Falls Creek. It is currently 32 acres and burning in western white pine needle cast with moderate potential for growth.

·     Double Rock Fire (*7/17) is located approximately 1½ miles north east of White Wolf. With the hot dry weather this fire is no longer inactive. It is 3/10 of an acre with moderate potential for growth.

·     Lukens Fire (*7/17) is located approximately1 mile north of Lukens Lake. With the hot dry weather this fire is no longer inactive. It is 1/10 of an acre with low potential for growth.

·     Half Moon Fire (*7/24) has been contained (7/225/06).

These fires are currently inactive:.

·     Hidden Fire (*7/10) is located ¼ mile south west of Hidden lake and 1mile south of the Tioga Road.

·     Horizon Fire (*6/26) is located on Horizon Ridge between Ostrander Lake and Glacier Point Road.