Yosemite Fire Information – Update # 9

November 12, 2007

Minimal activity was observed on the Jack and Devil fires Sunday as a moist storm brought intermittent rain to the fire area in Yosemite National Park. These fires started by lightning October 29, 2007 along with several others that were contained and controlled. The Devil and two other fires, Cotton and Johnson, located in the wilderness are being managed under a wildland fire use management response, while alternative management actions are being taken on the Jack Fire to prohibit its spread toward Wawona.

Fire managers are prepared for another drying trend this week and expect fire activity to increase on the 300 acre Jack Fire and the 160 acre Devil Wildland Fire Use event. The precipitation this weekend dampened fire activity, but did not put the fires out. The larger fires will continue to burn until significant precipitation is received. Generally, one to two inches of precipitation is necessary before fire managers may call the fires out. Until that time, fire managers continue to assess fire activity and projected movement to determine future management actions and staffing needs.

Jack Fire – The Jack Fire originally began in the wilderness as a wildland fire use event until it spread outside the fire use management zone on Nov. 8. Actions are being taken on the south half of the fire while the north half remains in the wilderness and will be allowed to grow. There are 106 personnel and three helicopters dedicated to the Jack Fire. The fire is positioned in steep terrain north of Wawona on Turner Ridge. Sunday, operations were suspended due to safety considerations from the moisture received. Monday, if conditions allow, crews will work on the northeast side of the fire constructing line and scouting possible holding opportunities. Helicopters will drop water on hot spots if necessary.

Devil Fire – The Devil Fire (about 160 acres) is located east of the Tamarack Trail, between Tamarack Flat Campground and the Tamarack Trail footbridge crossing at Cascade Creek. Fourteen personnel are assigned to the fire, monitoring fire spread, taking weather and smoke observations and scouting areas where holding actions could be taken if necessary. The fire will be allowed to function as a natural part of the ecosystem as it moves across the landscape.

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

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: Three 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 and the Mosquito Creek Junction approximately 5 miles north to Alder Creek Falls. On the Devil Fire, the trail between Tamarack Flat Campground and the top of El Capitan on the Valley Rim Trail is closed.

Air quality: Generally, air quality has been in the good to moderate category. For more information visit the Interagency Real Time Smoke Monitoring website, http://www.satguard.com/usfs/fleet.aspx.

Please call Fire Information at 209-375-9572, for photos and maps visit http://www.inciweb.org or the park website, http://www.nps.gov/yose/fire.