August 21, 2020 - 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.
National Park Service and Forest Service resources are committed to both fires and will continue to monitor fire weather behavior and growth.
The Blue Jay Fire has an 40% active perimeter and the Wolf Fire has a 45% active perimeter. Both fires are creeping and smoldering through ground litter on the forest floor with an overstory of lodgepole and red fir and burning in pockets of accumulated dead and down logs with some isolated single tree torching along the active perimeter. Smoke has been lifting and rising 300 feet above tree line and dispersing out to the north and northeast.
The environment both fires are burning is a fire adapted ecosystem. There are currently no threats to infrastructure and all trails remain open. Both fires may be visible from Tioga Road, Glacier Point, and from high country vistas.
Park Managers are working with the local Air Quality Districts and will be monitoring smoke impacts to the park and local communities. Heavy smoke from regional wildfires in California is impacting the area further reducing visibility.
These updates will happen once week unless significant activity occurs. For the most up-to-date fire information go to : Inciweb
Blue Jay Fire
Containment: 0% Strategy: Confine and Contain
Cause: Lightning
- Air Quality: www.nps.gov/yose/learn/nature/aqmonitoring or www.airnow.gov
Source: NPS
