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September 19, 2026 - Yosemite National Park Dome Fire Saturday Morning Update: 2,335 Acres with 15% Containment.

Current Situation
Total Personnel: 497
Size 2,335 Acres
Percent of Perimeter Contained 15%
Fuels Involved

Standing closed canopy timber is producing active fire behavior and spotting, adjacent fuels become less continuous with scattered timber, brush, grass, and exposed granite hillsides.
Significant Events

Active Fire Behavior was observed with isolated torching, flanking and creeping.




Outlook
Planned Actions

Direct and indirect suppression. Priorities, maintain southern heel and west flank, continue to utilize natural features on west flank moving North. Utilize retardant to support ground resources on West flank. Continue line construction on East flank utilizing natural features.
Projected Incident Activity

12 hours: Expected spread to the north and north east with numerous spot fires, current fire behavior in those areas is creeping and smoldering in old fire footprints. 24 hours: Growth expected to the North and NE. South and West flanks are priority suppression flanks to maximize use of natural barriers. Multiple IHCs will construct direct and indirect handline with aviation support. 48 hours: Growth expected to the North and NE. South and West flanks are priority suppression flanks to maximize use of natural barriers. Crews will continue to assess opportunities to construct handline both direct and indirect utilizing natural barriers.
Weather Concerns

Cooler temperatures are expected 9/17 with similar winds. Due to significant elevation change over small distances near the fire, firefighters expect to see some moderation from the predicted forecast. 
Basic Information
Current as of Sat, 09/19/2026 - 10:40
Incident Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Incident Type Wildfire
Cause Under Investigation
Date of Origin
Incident Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Location North of Wawona Dome
Incident Commander California Complex Incident Management Team 3, Incident Commander Oscar Vargas.
Incident Description The fire has a moderate rate of spread to the north and northeast. Firefighters have been utilizing natural barriers, and line has been secured on the south and west sides of the fire. The fire is deep in the wilderness and difficult to access due to steep, rugged terrain.
Coordinates 37° 33' 58'' Latitude
-119° 36'
82
'' Longitude


NPS Friday Evening Update:

Current Situation: Winds and terrain are driving the fire into the Empire and South Fork fire perimeter which is slowing fire behavior. The fire is moving to the north, northwest, and northeast with slow backing behavior, and it has reached the 2017 Empire Fire footprint, where behavior is reduced to creeping and smoldering. These older fire perimeters have less fuel available to carry fire and are expected to slow fire behavior, and they act as natural barriers that give firefighters safer places to work and potential anchor points for containment lines. Numerous spot fires remain well out ahead of the fire to the north due to gusty ridge winds.
Air operations were active today, with two air attack aircraft over the fire. Crews are being flown in by helicopter to gain better access to the fire. Three hotshot crews were inserted today, for a total of six hotshot crews, and six more have been ordered and are enroute. Type 1 water-dropping helicopters are assigned to the fire. To help ensure crew safety, Yosemite National Park's Helicopter 551 is available for short-haul, along with a hoist ship and Rapid Extraction Modules (REMs).
California Incident Management Team 3 has now assumed command of the Dome Fire, taking over responsibility for all incident operations and planning. 
WEATHER:
Even though the area is under a ridge of high pressure, temperatures at the fire itself are in the low 50s and 60s. Overnight lows drop into the 40s and 50s, with overnight relative humidity around 60 percent. Winds are out of the southwest at 5-10 mph, gusting to 15 mph.
Smoke Impacts / Air Quality:  As fire activity continues, we will see air quality generally degrade with more haze in our skies. Today, El Portal and Wawona will see the most smoke with air quality in the UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS range and some possible improvement in the afternoon. Yosemite Valley will maintain mostly MODERATE air quality with possible periods of smoke in the afternoon. Tuolumne Valley will see air quality ranging from MODERATE to UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS, with the smokiest periods being in the afternoon and evening. Hodgdon Meadow should avoid most of the smoke during the day, but air quality will likely stay more in the MODERATE range. Mariposa can expect GOOD air quality overall, but smoke will likely move in overnight and tomorrow leading to more MODERATE air quality and some hazy skies.Dominant winds have been from the South and Southwest, which is pushing the smoke up and over the mountains into Nevada, however some smoke is expected overnight in the valleys within Yosemite National Park.  View current Air Quality Monitoring at https://fire.airnow.gov/#7/38.532/-119.416 
Temporary Trail Closure:   Yosemite National Park is open and operating normally, with the following exception. The Chilnualna Falls trail, as well as the trails from the top of Chilnualna Falls toward Buena Vista and Crescent Lakes, are closed due to the Dome Fire (these lakes are reachable from the east.) The closed area also extends east of the Wawona Road from Wawona to Chinquapin, as seen on the public information map: https://arcg.is/z5HLC4.  View the full Closure Order


CAL FIRE Friday Evening Update:

The Dome Fire continues to move north, northwest, and northeast, with fire activity slowing as it reaches areas previously burned by the 2017 Empire Fire and other past fires. With less vegetation available to burn in these areas, fire behavior has been reduced to creeping and smoldering. Gusty winds continue to carry embers ahead of the main fire, resulting in spot fires to the north.

Firefighters continue working from the ground and air. Crews are being transported by helicopter into difficult to access areas, and additional Hotshot crews and firefighting resources are responding to support suppression efforts. Water dropping helicopters are also assigned to the incident.

Smoke will continue to affect portions of Yosemite National Park and surrounding communities. The heaviest impacts are expected around El Portal and Wawona, with periods of smoke also possible in Yosemite Valley and Tuolumne Meadows.

Yosemite National Park remains open. However, the Chilnualna Falls Trail and areas near the fire remain temporarily closed. Visitors should check current park information and closures before traveling into the affected area.

Updated by: Webtech

dome fire yosemite
Dome Fire from Wawona Point, Yosemite National Park, 9-16-2026. NPS photo.

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