Click here for: Washburn Fire in Yosemite National Park Updates for Wednesday, July 13, 2022

Washburn Fire in Yosemite National Park from the PG&E Miami Mountain Live Camera in Eastern Madera County on Tuesday Morning, July 12, 2022 at 6:06 A.M.

Click here for: Washburn Fire in Yosemite National Park Updates for Wednesday, July 13, 2022


Evening Update: Washburn Fire in Yosemite National Park is at 3,516 Acres, with 17% Containment.

Basic Information

Current as of	7/12/2022, 6:29:53 PM
Incident Type	Wildfire
Cause	Under Investigation
Location	Southern portion of Yosemite National Park;
Incident Commander	Josh Boehm, California Interagency Incident Management Team 13.
Incident Description	Full Suppression.
Coordinates	37.499 latitude, -119.614 longitude

Current Situation

Total Personnel	1,045
Size	3,516 Acres
Percent of Perimeter Contained	17%
Fuels Involved	Very heavy accumulations of available dead surface fuels with ample snags, downed timber, and concentrations in an old-growth forest condition. Representative fuels include large timber with an understory of young conifer and shrubs. Very deep duff and accumulation of timber litter (branchwood and needles) dominate the forest floor. Recent large fire scars in the area include woody fuels and recent shrub growth. Live fuels (shrubs/brush) are seasonally moist and are providing limited intensity and spread.
Significant Events	Expecting the next several days to provide active-to-very active fire behavior in heavy dead and down fuels with episodes of group torching, short crown runs, and spotting. Afternoon conditions are producing areas of high intensity fire behavior on the east flank of the fire resulting in additional acreage. Continued warming and drying over the next several days will likely provide increased fire behavior with additional fire growth and smoke production.

Outlook

Planned Actions

Continue direct handline construction where possible and prepare for indirect line when needed. Utilize offensive firing operations along primary control lines when appropriate. Defend Wawona Point and the Community of Wawona. Protect Mariposa Grove. Establish contingency lines through Long Valley to Star Mine

Projected Incident Activity

12 hours: Warm and dry conditions produced active-to-very active fire behavior during the day and will extend into the night due to poor relative humidity. Significant activity was observed on the east flank of the fire south of the S. Fk. Merced River including group torching and short crown runs on steep slopes. Light winds are producing sustained backing on slopes, flanking, and torching with spotting. Some downslope and down drainage wind flow will provide smoke in the valleys especially during the night under a strong inversion. 24 hours: Warming and drying will continue to provide an increase in fire behavior throughout the period, with the burn period extending into the nighttime hours due to poor relative humidity recovery. Light winds will provide sustained backing on slopes with flanking, torching, and spotting. Continued fire spread may be expected on the east flank of the fire in the South Fork Merced River drainage toward Iron Creek. Potential for continued spotting north of the South Fork Merced River as the fire backs to the bottom of the slope. 48 hours: Warm and dry conditions combined with poor-fair nighttime relative humidity will produce conditions for active to very active fire behavior on uncontained portions of the fire perimeter. Expect sustained backing, active flanking, more frequent torching with spotting, and short headfire runs likely. 72 hours: Increased warming and drying that will maintain active to very active fire behavior potential. Likely increase in fire behavior to include group torching, short torching/crown runs on wind aligned slopes, and spotting to .5 miles Anticipated after 72 hours: Peak warming and drying period late in the week will provide active to very active fire behavior on uncontained portions of the fire.

Current Weather

Weather Concerns

High pressure will ease slightly Wednesday leading to slightly cooler conditions. However, the region will still remain relatively dry. Smoke will continue to impact the region due to weaker transport flow, especially at night. Overall winds will be light to moderate and mostly terrain driven. Observed Weather Conditions July 12, 2022: Wind Speed / Max. Gust Sustained 3-8 mph gust 15 mph Temp Highs 84-89 Direction Southwest RH 20-25% Forecasted Weather for Next Operational Period July 13, 2022: Wind Speed / Max. Gust Sustained 5-8 mph gusts to 20 mph. Temp Highs 79-87 Direction Southwest RH 20-30%

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Update 10:06 A.M.  Washburn Fire in Yosemite National Park Operations Video for Tuesday, July 12, 2022

Update 6:12 A.M. Weather Service: Smoke projection from the High-Resolution Rapid Refresh computer model depicts heavy smoke from the #WashburnFire moving over Wawona and Yosemite National Park this afternoon due to southerly transport winds. Smoke will decrease in density late this evening.

Update: 6:10 A.M. Air Quality Measurements 

Update 6:00 A.M.: Washburn Fire in Yosemite National Park Briefing and Infrared Maps for Tuesday, July 12, 2022

Update 11:35 A.M.  Below is the Daily Update

Location: Yosemite National Park, Mariposa Grove                   

Percent Contained: 22%Start Date: July 7, 2022                                                            

Cause: Under Investigation

Size: 3221 acres (+881)                                                            

Number of Personnel Assigned: 649 (+104)   

Summary: 

The Washburn Fire was reported on July 7th, near the Washburn Trail in the Mariposa Grove area of Yosemite National Park. A full initial attack response was dispatched including Yosemite NP Fire resources, state and local cooperators. California Interagency Incident Management Team 13 assumed command of this full suppression fire on Saturday, July 9th. 

Weather Conditions: The weather for the coming week will continue to be warm and dry due to a strengthening high pressure system over the area. Expect winds over the fire area to remain light to moderate and mostly terrain driven. Temperatures will reach the low-90s and relative humidity’s will be in the 20-30% range. 

Fuels in the Fire Path: The area in which the fire is burning contains a very heavy accumulation of fuels (trees in various forms and stages) on the ground as well as part of the understory. This old growth habitat is a combination of dead large diameter trees and timber litter on the ground (many feet thick in some cases) in combination with thick growing conifers and shrubs, much of which has been largely untouched for many decades. The more than 500 mature giant sequoias of the Mariposa Grove are adjacent to these fuels and have so far avoided serious damage from the Washburn Fire. Most of these trees are over 2000 years old and have experienced fire many times throughout their lives. 

Projected Incident Activity and Suppression Strategy: The combination of continued warm and dry weather conditions along with the heavy accumulation of large fuels is creating the perfect recipe for the very active fire behavior we are seeing. Observers from a distance should expect to see heavy smoke production for the next few days as the fire activity increases each afternoon when the temperatures are at their highest and relative humidity’s are at their lowest, this is expected and not a direct threat to the giant sequoias. And while sections of the fire are not able to be fought head-on by fire crews due to the safety risk for firefighters, much of the rest of the fire is being successfully suppressed, fire lines are being strengthened, unburned fuel in the path of the fire are being burned to “starve the fire” and hot spots are being cooled. Areas which were initially evacuated are being monitored and safeguarded and as soon as it is determined to be safe, these areas will be able to welcome folks back home. Resources from around the country continue to arrive on the incident. It is important to remember that once an area has had fire, there is often a great deal of work required to make the area safe for people again. It should be made clear that there was, in no way, a hesitation in responding to and attacking this fire with all available resources and this is the continued suppression strategy. 

Evacuations & Closures: Wawona, Wawona Road (Hwy 41) south of Yosemite West, and the Mariposa Grove are closed until further notice. All other areas of Yosemite National Park are open. Use El Portal Rd (Hwy 140) or Big Oak Flat Rd. (Hwy 120 East) or Tioga Rd (Hwy 120 West) to enter Yosemite. The Rest of the Park Remains Open and reservations are still required; visit www.recreation.gov.

We appreciate the patience of the public as visitors experience longer waits at the other entrances while the South Entrance remains closed.  For road, campground, and other information visit www.nps.gov/yose

EXPECT SMOKEY CONDITIONS WITHIN THE PARK. Visit: fire.airnow.gov/ to view conditions in your area. 

Aviation / Drone Restrictions: A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) has been issued and any private aircraft or drone violating the TFR could face serious criminal charges. For more information on drones visit: knowbeforeyoufly.org“If you fly, we can’t!”  

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July 12, 2022 - Washburn Fire in Yosemite National Park is at 3,221 Acres and 22% Containment.

· 3,221 acres (+501 acres), brush and timber,

  22% contained (+0% containment)

· Fire remained active overnight with spotting

· Threat to critical infrastructure

· Mandatory evacuation orders in effect for the community of Wawona

· Threat to the community of Wawona

· Threat to Giant Sequoia grove

· Road and trail closures in the area

· CAIIMT 13 (Boehm) in command

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Click here for: Washburn Fire in Yosemite National Park Updates for Monday, July 11, 2022