August 17, 2020 - The Blue Jay Fire was ignited by lightning on July 24th. The Wolf Fire was ignited by lightning on August 11th.
The Blue Jay Fie is not burning along trails, the Wolf Fire is burning 150-200 yards from the Lukens Lake Trail. The strategy for both fires is to confine and contain to a specific area, utilizing natural barriers for the fires to burn into, such as granite and bare ground. This minimizes fire suppression impacts in the wilderness and reduces exposure to firefighters in a remote area of the park where there are no trails or campgrounds. Firefighters will continue to monitor fire behavior. One Yosemite Wildfire Module (WFM) is committed to the Blue Jay Fire and various YNP Fire resources are committed to the Wolf Fire.
Both fires are creeping and smoldering through ground litter on the forest floor and burning in pockets of accumulated dead and down logs with some isolated single tree torching along the active perimeter. Smoke production has been light to moderate depending on fuels. Smoke has been lifting and rising 300 feet above tree line and dispersing out to the east. The fires are expected to continue creeping and smoldering as each burn through timber litter with an overstory of lodgepole and red fir.
The environment both fires are burning is a fire adapted ecosystem. There are currently no threats to infrastructure or access on maintained trails. Both fires may be visible from Tioga Road, Glacier Point, and from high country viewpoints.
Park Managers are working with the local Air Quality Districts and will be monitoring smoke impacts to the park and local communities.
Blue Jay Fire
For the most up-to-date fire information: Inciweb
Source: NPS
