at approximately 7300 feet elevation
Discovery Date: July 31st, 2017
Size: 850 acres
Cause: Lightning
August 13, 2017 - The Empire Fire is being managed for both resource and protection objectives. It is approximately 1 mile south of the Bridalveil Campground east of Alder Creek drainage and west of Bridalveil Creek drainage, burning in Red fir. Fire behavior has been actively flanking and backing with some single and group tree torching. The fire is burning in heavy pockets of dead and down timber, reducing fuels buildup which increases forest resiliency. Projected fire growth is expected in the northeast and southeast flanks.
The affected area is in a fire-adapted wilderness. Allowing fires to burn naturally can result in healthier, more diverse ecosystems. Reducing fuels buildup minimizes the potential for future severe fires. Although the current fire may have transient, moderate smoke impacts, more severe fires can cause unhealthy levels of smoke for extended periods, over a much wider area.
Trails are closed from Bridalveil Creek Campground at the second junction with the Ostrander trail and from Westfall Meadow to the Deer Camp junction, along Alder Creek. There are no threats to infrastructure at Bridalveil Campground and the remainder of hiking trails in the area are open at this time. All trails will continue to be assessed by fire crews. Future closures will be decided based on fire behavior. Smoke will be seen in the fire area and may impact the Bridalveil Campground.
The fire will be visible from the high country and may be seen from multiple viewpoints in the immediate area off Glacier Point Road including Sentinel and Washburn Points.
Fire Managers are working with the local Air Quality Districts and will continually be monitoring smoke impacts to the park and local communities. Community members who are sensitive to smoke may want to close their windows and doors and monitor the air quality links below.
Additional Information
- Fire Information: Yose_Fire_Info@nps.gov
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YosemiteNPS/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/YosemiteNPS
- Air Quality: https://www.nps.gov/yose/learn/nature/aqmonitoring.htm and https://airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=airnow.local_city&mapcenter=0&cityid=533
For smoke and air quality information as it relates to both the Empire Fire and Butte Fire on the Sierra National Forest visit : https://wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlooks/2017/CentralSierraFires#Main
Source: NPS
