CA-YNP #MEADOWSFIRE INFORMATION 4,400 Acres Burned (MAP) #CaFire

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

CA-YNP #MEADOWSFIRE INFORMATION 4,400 Acres Burned (MAP) #CaFire

CA-YNP- Meadow - CA-YNP-0101

The fire was first discovered on July 19th 2014, near Starr King Lake after a lightning storm passed through the area. 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.

Yosemite Meadow Fire
Photo Credit: ‏@tee_reed

Yosemite National Park

P.O. Box 577

Clovis, CA 93611

MEADOWS FIRE INFORMATION

Update #1

Release for Tuesday, September 9, 2014/Time: 12:00 PM

Incident Statics

Acres Burned: 4,400 Structures Threatened: 0

Containment: 5% Structures Damaged: 0

Fire Start Date: July 19, 2014 Injuries: 0

Fire Cause: Lightning Total Personnel: 327

Cost to date: $100,000

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.
Approximately 100 hikers and backpackers were evacuated from the fire area and an additional 85 hikers and climbers were evacuated by helicopter from the Summit of Half Dome on September 7 due to the rapid spread of the fire. Helicopters from the California Highway Patrol, U.S. Forest Service, Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Park and Cal Fire were utilized to affect the evacuations.
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.
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.

(More)

Smoke from the Meadows Fire will continue to impact visitors, campers and employees overnight and in the early morning hours in Yosemite Valley.

Fires of this magnitude 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):

Echo Creek Drainage to Little Yosemite Valley

Sunrise Creek Drainage to Little Yosemite Valley

Merced River Corridor to Merced Lake Ranger Station

Sunrise Trail to Clouds Rest from Tenaya Lake

The following campground is closed to house firefighters for suppression efforts:

Bridalveil Campground

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/parkmgmt/current _fire.htm
Yosemite Wildland Fire Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Yosemite -Wildland-Fire/12463296455395

Yosemite Meadow Fire Map - 9/8/14

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CFN - California Fire News 2013

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Wednesday, September 10, 2014