Meadow Fire in Yosemite National Park Information
for Monday, September 15, 2014
for Monday, September 15, 2014
Update for 7:45 P.M.
4,772 Acres with 80% Containment
Basic Information
| Current as of | 9/15/2014 7:41:50 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 | 328 |
|---|---|
| Size | 4,772 Acres |
| Percent of Perimeter Contained | 80% |
| Estimated Containment Date | Sunday September 21st, 2014 approx. 12:00 AM |
| Fuels Involved | Timber(litter and understory), timber brush and ground litter. |
| Significant Events | Crews scheduled to fly out of Heli-spot 4 today had to divert to Heli-spot 9 due to high winds. Division E and S continue to show measurable amounts of smoke. There are still a few isolated heat sources along the fires perimeter in Division E with most of the remaining heat dispersed in the fires interior. Crews continue to make good progress keeping the fire within containment lines. Crews continue to patrol containment lines and hot spots as needed. The fire continues to cool with isolated heat sources within the interior. Overall air quality adjacent to the incident is increasing as the fire cools. |
Outlook
| Planned Actions | Crews will continue line construction and improve direct fire line where needed. Spot fires are still a concern to suppression efforts in Division E, where the largest areas of heat appear to be concentrated. Aircraft will backhaul used supplies and equipment as needed. |
|---|---|
| Projected Incident Activity | Winds are expected to increase as a low pressure moves towards the northwest coast. The air mass could bring some isolated thunderstorms to the crest of the Sierra adjacent to the fire area. Complete fuel consumption is still expected in the lower elevations of the fire. Higher elevations will continue to smolder with some areas of open flame. The eastern divisions of the fire continue to carry the most heat. Given the large areas heat within interior, minimal smoke is being produced, but fire activity within containment lines is expected to continue. |
| Remarks | The confine and contain objectives have been met. The bulk of suppression resources are being demobilized. Two type 1 hot shot crews and three wildland fire modules remain spiked out in the wilderness to patrol/monitor and mop-up where necessary. A large backhaul of gear, trash and equipment occurred today. A transition meeting with the incoming type 3 incident organization occurred at 1:00 p.m. today. Transition to the type 3 organization will occur at 7:00 a.m. on 9/16/14. A closeout meeting for the type 2 team will occur at 1:00 p.m. on 9/16/14 in Yosemite Valley. |
Current Weather
| Weather Concerns | A southwesterly flow aloft will reside over the district through Wednesday between an upper level trough off the Pacific Northwest Coast and high pressure ridge centered over the four corners region. Other than an isolated thunderstorm. Along the Sierra Crest from Fresno County southward this afternoon. Dry weather will prevail through at least Wednesday morning. Isolated thunderstorms are possible over the mountains and desert. From late Wednesday through Thursday as the upper level trough nears the Central Coast. Temperatures will average above normal through Wednesday with generally light and terrain driven winds. Humidity will gradually trend upward through the period. Temperature at 5000 feet 89-94; ridge winds southeast to southwest at 7-17 mph. |
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Update: 3:00 P.M.
Incident Overview
The fire most likely started on July 19th 2014, near Starr King Lake after a lightning storm passed through the area. Due to the remoteness of the location and fire behavior, the fire was first reported August 15th 2014. The fire is in an area designated as wilderness in Yosemite National Park, within the Little Yosemite Valley, Mariposa County. The original fire was impacted by a wind event that caused the fire to spread significantly on September 7th 2014. The Meadow Fire will be fought using Minimum Impact Suppression Tactics (M.I.S.T) to help preserve the natural ecology of the Yosemite Wilderness. The Wilderness Act 1964, expects Federal Agencies to allow natural processes to maintain the natural ecosystem.
('Click' map for larger view)
Update: 8:40 A.M.
4,772 Acres with 80% Containment
Basic Information
| Current as of | 9/15/2014 8:20:47 AM |
|---|---|
| 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 | 424 |
|---|---|
| Size | 4,772 Acres |
| Percent of Perimeter Contained | 80% |
| Estimated Containment Date | Sunday September 21st, 2014 approx. 12:00 AM |
| Fuels Involved | Timber(litter and understory), timber brush and ground litter. |
| Significant Events | Last nights operational briefing indicated an additional 30 percent containment in Division E, K,W and S. There a few isolated heat sources along the fires perimeter in Division E and W with most of the heat dispersed in the fires interior. Crews continue to make good progress keeping the fire within containment lines. Crews continue to patrol containment lines and hot spots as needed. The fire continues to cool with isolated heat sources within the interior. Isolated heat scattered throughout the fire continue to produce smoke, but overall air quality adjacent to the incident is creasing as the fire cools. |
Outlook
| Planned Actions | Crews will continue line construction and improve direct fire line where needed. Spot fires are still a concern to suppression efforts in Division E, where the largest areas of heat appear to be concentrated. Aircraft will continue to support suppression actions, as well as shuttle crews and equipment. Aircraft will backhaul used supplies and equipment as needed. |
|---|---|
| Projected Incident Activity | Winds are expected to increase as a low pressure moves towards the northwest coast. The air mass could bring some isolated thunderstorms to the crest of the Sierra adjacent to the fire area. Complete fuel consumption is still expected in the lower elevations of the fire. Higher elevations will continue to smolder with some areas of open flame. The eastern divisions of the fire continue to carry the most heat. Minimal perimeter growth is expected in the eastern division that have open line as temperatures remain low and relative humidity increase. Given the large areas heat within interior, minimal smoke is being produced, but fire activity within containment lines is expected to continue. |
| Remarks | Crews continue to be spiked out in the wilderness to reduce helicopter flights, crew safety and wilderness impacts. Operations has secured the Point 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. Given the current fire activity within California, demobilization of crews as they complete there assignments is a priority for the Meadow Incident. |
Current Weather
| Weather Concerns | A southwesterly flow aloft will reside over the district through Wednesday between an upper level trough off the Pacific Northwest Coast and high pressure ridge centered over the four corners region. Other than an isolated thunderstorm. Along the Sierra Crest from Fresno County southward this afternoon. Dry weather will prevail through at least Wednesday morning. Isolated thunderstorms are possible over the mountains and desert. From late Wednesday through Thursday as the upper level trough nears the Central Coast. Temperatures will average above normal through Wednesday with generally light and terrain driven winds. Humidity will gradually trend upward through the period. Temperature at 5000 feet 89-94; ridge winds southeast to southwest at 7-17 mph. |
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Update: 7:43 A.M.
4,772 acres, 80% contained
Monday Perimeter Map
Limited Overnight Growth
Sunday Evening Information
Basic Information
| Current as of | 9/14/2014 8:02:18 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 | 424 |
|---|---|
| Size | 4,772 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 | There a few isolated heat sources along the fires perimeter in Division E and W with most of the heat dispersed in the fires interior. Crews are making good progress in these areas, keeping the fire within containment lines. Burn out operations in Division S increased the fires size by a few acres. Crews continue to patrol this and the other divisions and hot-spotting areas of concern. The west flank of the fire continues to cool with mostly isolated heat sources within the interior. Isolated heat scattered throughout the fire continue to produce smoke, but overall air quality adjacent to the incident is creasing as the fire cools. |
Outlook
| Planned Actions | Crews will continue line construction and improve direct fire line where needed. Spot fires are still a concern to suppression efforts in Division E, where the largest areas of heat appear to be concentrated. Aircraft will continue to support suppression actions, as well as shuttle crews and equipment. Aircraft will backhaul used supplies and equipment as needed. |
|---|---|
| Projected Incident Activity | The eastern divisions of the fire continue to carry heat. 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 temperatures remain low and relative humidity rise. Given the large areas heat within interior, minimal smoke is being produced, but fire activity within containment lines is expected to continue. Winds are expected to increase as a low pressure moves towards the north coast. Complete fuel consumption is expected in the lower elevations of the fire, higher elevations will continue to smolder. |
| Remarks | The Meadow Fire is utilizing a confine and contain strategy with MIST. Crews continue to be 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 allowed the opening of the Half Dome Trail from Nevada Falls. Point 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. Given the current fire activity within California, demobilization of crews as they complete there assignments is a priority for the Meadow Incident. |
Current Weather
| Weather Concerns | High pressure will bring mainly 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. A trough of low pressure will approach the Pacific Northwest and Northern California Tuesday and Wednesday. This will bring a slight chance of thunderstorms to the mountains and desert areas by Thursday as well as increased winds over the Sierra, especially near Yosemite. |
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