Meadow Fire in Yosemite National Park Information for Saturday, September 13, 2014
Meadow Fire MODIS Fire Detections 1415 MDT Sep 13 2014 with fire boundary Sep 12 2236
Joe Coho "Meadow Fire MODIS Fire Detections 1415 MDT Sep 13 2014 with the fire boundary as of 2236 on Fri Sep 12. Most recent detections are from Friday afternoon."
Thanks to Joe Coho for the map.
Incident Statics Acres Burned: 4,960
Structures Threatened: 0
Containment: 50%
Structures Damaged: 0
Fire Start Date: July 19, 2014
Injuries: 1
Fire Discovered: 8/15/14
Total Personnel: 570
Fire Cause: Lightning
Cost to date: $3.3 million
Est. Containment: 9/21/14
Summary
- The Fire is located within the designated wilderness of the Yosemite National Park in Mariposa County and is currently within Little Yosemite Valley between Half Dome and Mount Starr King on both sides of the Merced River.
- The fire spread significantly due to a wind event which occurred on September 7, 2014.
- In Yosemite National Park, fire managers operate within the federal guidelines to assess new naturally caused fires, long enough to determine the threat or benefit the fire may or may not have on the parks ecology. Most fires within the Yosemite National Park naturally burn themselves out. Only a small number of fires show potential for large fire growth and fire suppression action is needed to mitigate the threat to resources. Fire is an important component to the health of the parks sensitive ecology.
- Recreation and businesses remain open in the Yosemite National Park except trail areas listed below.
Fire Update
- Firefighter and public safety remains the highest priority. Fire crews are being sensitive to environmental and cultural resources in and around the fire area.
- Last night's infrared flight revealed some fire growth in the fire to the southeast portion of the fire, where a small burnout operation took place, but otherwise there was minimal perimeter growth. Intense heat still remains along the east flank. Crews and helicopters will continue to work known spot fires outside the line.
- Due to the extremely steep, rugged and inaccessible terrain, some fire crews are being flown into the area by helicopter. Air resources, including eight helicopters are being utilized along the fire-line to slow the forward progress of the fire and to cool down hot spots. Due to the potential fire growth and extensive amount of work which remains, a high commitment of resources will be required.
- Fire crews are using Minimum Impact Suppression Tactics (M.I.S.T). Fire crews are confining and containing the naturally caused fire by utilizing natural barriers such as, rock to rock, rock to domes, decomposed granite (DG) to sparse fuels. Crews are working hard to maintain natural habitat in the wilderness and working diligently to limit the foot print the suppression effort may cause.
- The trail to Half Dome via Little Yosemite Valley is open to day-use only. No overnight camping in any areas impacted by the fire is permitted.
- The fire continues to burn through popular hiking areas in Yosemite National Park and trail closures still remain in effect.
- Smoke from the Meadows Fire will continue to impact visitors, campers and employees overnight and in the early morning hours in Yosemite Valley.
- Fires can produce heavy smoke that blows down into Yosemite Valley. Be prepared for smoke in the unhealthy AQI range normally worse in the mornings with some clearing in the afternoon hours.
- Information for schools can be found on this site and links to current air quality updates for this incident will be posted on the California Smoke Information blog.
Trail Closures
By order of the Superintendent of Yosemite National Park and under authority of Title 36, Code of Federal Regulations, Section 1.5(a) and Section (a)(1):
Little Yosemite Valley (closed to overnight use)
The John Muir Trail between Little Yosemite Valley and Sunrise High Sierra Camp
Sunrise and Merced Lake High Sierra Camps and backpackers' camps
The Sunrise Trail south of the Tenaya Lake Trail Junction
Clouds Rest and Sunrise Lakes
Cooperating agencies include
U.S. Forest Service, National Weather Service and California Conservation Corp.
For More Information:
- Fire information: gary_wuchner@nps.gov
- Fire Information call center: (209) 372-0327;372-0328;and, 372-0329.
- For Yosemite air quality data and webcams: www.nps.gov/yose/naturescience/aqmonitoring.htm
- For smoke updates: www.californiasmokeinfo.blogspot.com
- Yosemite National Park Web page: http://www.nps.gov/yose/blogs/fireinfo.htm
Early Saturday Morning Information - 4:20 A.M.
4,960 Acres
Overhead Flight Comments:
There was a little growth tonight along the eastern edge and to the south west.
The spots outside the line along the northeast edge also showed some growth.
There were isolated heats at or over the line.
Saturday Perimeter Map
Friday Evening Information
4,933 acres with 50% containment
Basic Information
| Current as of | 9/12/2014 9:43:37 PM |
|---|---|
| Incident Type | Wildfire |
| Cause | Lightning |
| Date of Origin | Saturday July 19th, 2014 approx. 08:00 AM |
| Location | East of Half Dome in the Merced River Drainage at Little Yosemite Valley |
| Incident Commander | David Cooper SCSIIMT2 |
| Incident Description | Wildfire In The Wilderness |
Current Situation
| Total Personnel | 535 |
|---|---|
| Size | 4,933 Acres |
| Percent of Perimeter Contained | 50% |
| Estimated Containment Date | Sunday September 21st, 2014 approx. 12:00 AM |
| Fuels Involved | Timber(litter and understory), timber brush and ground litter. |
| Significant Events | The fire generally continues to cool with areas of Intense heat still remaining along the east flank. There is a spot fire north west of the fires perimeter where crews and aircraft worked most of the afternoon. The west flank of the fire had minimal activity and continues to cool. There is still isolated heat sources throughout the fire. These heat sources will continue to appear with the continued high temperatures and lower relative humidity. In areas that have open ground fire complete fuel consumption is occurring. |
Outlook
| Planned Actions | Construct and improve direct fire line where possible. Div.G and K are the highest priorities due to unburned pockets of fuel and access to continuous fuels. Hold and improve existing constructed perimeter. Continued direct line construction. Aircraft will continue to shuttle crews and equipment and backhaul used supplies and equipment. |
|---|---|
| Projected Incident Activity | Fire continues its interior burnout in forested areas and vegetative stringers between granite outcrops, many of these natural barriers are being utilized during line construction. Minimal perimeter growth is expected in the eastern divisions as constructed hand lines and natural barriers hold the fires growth. Given the large areas heat within interior, fire activity within control lines is expected to continue as daytime temperatures increase. Complete fuel consumption is expected in the lower elevations of the fire, higher elevations will have a higher potential for re-burn potential. |
| Remarks | The fire is located in a very popular area within the Yosemite National Park Wilderness. A strategy is being implemented using MIST tactics. Crews are being spiked out in the wilderness at several locations to reduce helicopter flights into the wilderness. Operations has secured the west flank in Divisions A and D which will allow for the opening of Half Dome which was the National Parks Service first priority. Half Dome is expected to open on Saturday, 9/13/14. The second priority is protection for the three High Sierra Camps, operated by the park concessionaire, located at Vogelsang, Sunrise Meadow and Merced Lake. Measures taken not to attract bears to food and other supplies have been successful. As divisions meet containment objectives, crews from those divisions will be placed in demobilization status. |
Current Weather
| Weather Concerns | An upper level ridge of high pressure will bring clear skies. Terrain driven winds and well above normal temperatures to the district through Tuesday. Only small day to day changes in humidity can be expected through the period with poor to moderate humidity recovery each night over the mountains and deserts. A trough of low pressure will approach the pacific northwest and northern California Tuesday and Wednesday which will bring an increase in wind over the Sierra, especially near Yosemite. |
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