Empire Fire in Yosemite National Park
Credit: NPS

October 27, 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


Heat map of the Empire Fire
Credit: NPS


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.


Areal view of one of the fingers of the S. Fork (cold) near Johnson Creek.
Source: NPS

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. 
Source: NPS