Yosemite Fire Information – Update # 7

November 9, 2007

Fire activity moderated today when predicted cool, moist, cloudy conditions occurred in Yosemite National Park. The Jack Fire north of Wawona is 326 acres and the Devil Wildland Fire Use Fire east of Tamarack Flat Campground is 160 acres. With reduced fire behavior and spread, personnel on the ground were able to accurately map the perimeter of the fires.

Fourteen fires were started by lightning October 29, 2007; ten were quickly contained and controlled. Three fires (Devil, Cotton and Johnson) located in the wilderness are being managed under a wildland fire use management response, while aggressive actions are being taken on the Jack Fire which spread into the Park’s suppression zone on Thursday.

Jack Fire – There are 106 personnel and three helicopters dedicated to the Jack Fire. Steep, brushy terrain is hampering efforts to construct line south and east of the fire. The helicopters were unable to fly today due to low cloud cover but will be available Saturday to drop water on hot spots and transport personnel and equipment if the weather cooperates.

Devil Fire – The Devil is located east of the Tamarack Trail, between Tamarack Flat Campground and the Tamarack Trail footbridge crossing at Cascade Creek. Fourteen personnel are assigned and are working south of the fire to ensure it remains within the fire use boundary. The fire continues to work its way west, reducing fuels and maintaining a natural role in the ecosystem.

Cotton Fire – The Cotton is one quarter acre and has not shown any growth in two days. It is approximately 3.5 miles east of the Hetch Hetchy Ranger Station, near Cottonwood Meadow. It is inside the Ackerson Fire of 1996.

Johnson – The fire is in Madera County, 4 miles northeast of Wawona, near Crescent Lake. It is 0.1 acre and consists of a single snag burning with low growth potential.

Closures: Two trails have been closed for public safety. On the Jack Fire, the trail from the Wawona Ranger Office to the junction with the Alder Creek Trail is closed. On the Devil Fire, the trail between Tamarack Flat Campground and the top of El Capitan on the Valley Rim Trail is closed. Additional trail closures may be considered. Hikers are advised to call for current information and refer to posted updates for potentially changing conditions.

Partly sunny skies are predicted for Saturday. A chance of precipitation returns by Saturday night through Sunday. The outlook is calling for warmer, drier conditions early next week.

For more information, please call Fire Information at 209-375-9572.

Additional Information: The park website, www.nps.gov/yose/fire has information about fire activity and smoke effects in Yosemite.