CA-YNP-Forbidden Fire - Yosemite Lightning Caused WUF Fire 35+ acres [Topo Location Map] [New Picture]

CA-YNP-0010 YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK #ForbiddenFire

Update: From Yosemite Wildland Fire Facebook 


Update from a reader 6-24:

I just hiked the Yosemite Creek Trail on Friday, June 21.  I was reading your Yosemite Forbidden Fire update and saw you requested any photos, etc.  In that spirit, I am sending you fire photos I snapped the day of our hike.  They aren't too exciting, with just some smoke visible, but thought you’d be interested anyway.  The location from which I took the photos is at a high point 1.5 trail miles south of Yosemite Creek Campground, just before it intersects with another trail leading down from Tioga Road and a Yosemite Creek tributary stream. 

It certainly did not impact our enjoyment at all – It was a beautiful trail and a spectacular day!  Thank your crew for us for their service to the park and keeping us safe.

Mike Hennessy

San Diego, CA

YOSEMITE NP: Forbidden Fire Photos
Heavier smoke in the middle of the screen. Fire continues to work up into the higher elevation wilderness. #YNPForbiddenFire @YosemiteFire — atYosemite National Park.

Forbidden Fire Update

June 11, 2013 Posted by: Yosemite Fire Information This lightning caused fire is approximately 32 acres. A single tree was struck by lightning on May 21, 2013. The fire is west of the Eagle Peak Meadow and Creek, a tributary of Yosemite Creek, and is north of Eagle Peak, on the north rim of Yosemite Valley. It is smoldering through surface fuels and duff in a red fir forest. Parts of the fire have been observed with 6-12 inch flame lengths, and there have been some torching of trees. Smoke is visible from various locations in the park, including Tioga Rd, Sentinel Dome and Glacier Point. Fire managers are working with Mariposa County Air Pollution Control District concerning air quality impacts to nearby smoke sensitive areas. Fire crews utilized natural barriers to check the fire spread to the south, and will continue to monitor the fire for growth, direction of spread, fire behavior and smoke production.  The Forbidden Fire meets the park's fire management objectives of firefighter and the public safety, as the fire presents few risks to values. The fire poses no threat to park service buildings, roads or infrastructure. When appropriate, fire crews will utilize pack stock for logistical support on this fire in an effort to preserve wilderness character. The fire was named for the Forbidden Wall along the Yosemite Falls trail. Yosemite Fire Information and Updates Homepage

CA-YNP-Forbidden Fire Topo Map

Update: CA-YNP-Forbidden Fire - Update #3 – June 4, 2013

Forbidden (37 45.485 x -119 37.116; 7,400” el., Mariposa CO.)  This lightning caused fire was called in by employees and visitors observing smoke on May 21.  The fire is west of the Eagle Peak Meadow and Creek, a tributary of Yosemite Creek, and north of Eagle Peak, on the north rim of Yosemite Valley.  The fire is approximately at five acres, and smoldering through surface fuels and duff in a red fir forest.  Some parts of the fire have been observed with 6-12 inch flame lengths.  A single tree was struck by lightning.  

Smoke is visible from various locations in the park, including Tioga Rd, Sentinel Dome and Glacier Point.  Fire managers are working with Mariposa County Air Pollution Control District concerning air quality impacts to nearby smoke sensitive areas.

Yosemite fire crews will be hiking into the fire area to continue monitor fire growth and to improve the north rim trail system near Eagle Peak Meadows, and utilize natural barriers to check the fire spread to the south.  They will continue to scout for a week and determine the fire’s potential growth and spread direction, measure fuel moisture, and monitor fire behavior and smoke production.

The Forbidden Fire meets the park’s fire management objectives of firefighter and the public safety, as the fire presents few risks to values. The fire poses no threat to park service buildings, roads or infrastructure.  When appropriate, fire crews will utilize pack stock for logistical support on this fire in an effort to preserve wilderness character.  

The fire was named for the Forbidden Wall along the Yosemite Falls trail.

For additional information:

• Fire Information:  gary_wuchner@nps.gov; (209) 375-9574 or 372-0480
• Yosemite National Park Web page:  http://www.nps.gov/yose/parkmgmt?current_fire.htm
• Yosemite Air Quality Web page:  http://www.nps.gov/yose/naturescience/agmonitoring.htm
• Yosemite Wildland Fire Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Yosemtie-Wildland-Fire/124632964255395

Pictures from around the net:

CA-YNP- Forbidden Fire  - Yosemite Fire Crew 7 Ready Mule Packs

CA-YNP-Forbidden Fire - USFS Inyo National Forest Mule Packers Supporting Yosemite N.P. #ForbiddenFire. #CaFire

Some Photos from Yosemite Wildland Fire Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Yosemite-Wildland-Fire/124632964255395
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CFN - California Fire News 2013 

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CA-SQF-Moses fire - High elevation Fire - 2 acres in size

The Moses Fire Monitored with High-Tech Cameras

Springville, CA., October 22, 2008...Fire Officials are using high quality cameras to monitor the fire. The cameras are placed in strategic locations so fire officials can monitor the smoke and fires growth. Cameras placed on ridge tops have been utilized internally by the Forest Service over the past several years to monitor fire activity. In this case, however, a camera was placed specifically to monitor the Moses Fire and is now available to the public.

The public can view the fire from one of the cameras by going to the Sequoia National Forest web-site www.fs.fed.us/r5/sequoia and then click on the Jordan Peak link under "LIVE WEB CAMERA" in the box on the right hand side of the web-page.

The Moses fire was discovered on October 14th and is burning at an elevation of 8,000 feet in the Golden Trout Wilderness on the Western Divide Ranger District, Giant Sequoia National Monument. The fire poses little threat to any non-Federal lands.

Priscilla Summers, District Ranger, has decided the appropriate management response for the Moses fire is to monitor the fire from a distance rather than place personnel in the steep and rocky terrain on the fire's edge. Forest officials have been coordinating with Park officials from nearby Sequoia National Park. There is a possibility that the fire could expand and reach the Park boundary prior to fall rains and snow.

The Moses fire is currently 2 acres in size and is burning slowly. The fire’s growth is expected to be minimal. Smoke is visible intermittently from Yokohl Valley Drive near the community of Springville and from Road 276 in Frazier Valley.

Source: http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/sequoia/news/releases/2008/moses.html
High Sierra Cam: http://sierrafire.cr.usgs.gov/cgi-bi...=jordan_peak_5

CA-SQF-Clover - WUF Fire - 382 acres 30 percent

Clover fire location map

Start: 05/31/2008/1455
Location: Fire near Monache Meadows on the SQF, 8 miles north of Kennedy Meadows - On and near Pacific Crest Trail
GPS: Latitude: 36,07.16 - Longitude: 118,08.02
Cause: Originally thought to be human caused now determined to be lightning caused. Clover Fire has now transitioned to a Fire-Use Fire
Size: 382 acres and is 30 percent contained.
Fuels Involved: Jeffrey pine, mountain mahogany, sage and manzanita.
Fire Behavior: Active fire in brush on the north end. High winds
Growth Potential: Low
Terrain Difficulty: High
Planned Actions: Construct direct line as much as possible. Continue to hold the fire from spreading south towards Kennedy Meadows
Personnel: A total of 165 fire personnel are presently assigned to the Clover fire, including 2 helicopters and specialized personel.
Incident command: David Brinsfield - CA FUMT has been mobilized for this incident.

Closures: The Pacific Crest Trail will remain OPEN with a "warning sign" posted for public safety. Hikers in the fire area will be escorted, during daylight hours only, through the fire area. The escort section is approximately ¾ of a mile. It is highly discouraged to hike in the area after dark - many hikers have mistaken the fireline for the trail and put themselves in a dangerous situation.
Narrative: KERNVILLE, CA - The Clover Fire presently burning in the South Sierra Wilderness has been transitioned from a unwanted human caused fire to a "wildland fire-use" fire due to further investigations.

Upon initial investigation the probable cause of fire appeared to be human-caused. Further investigation has revealed the cause more likely to be lightning. Each lightning caused fire is evaluated to determine the optimal response (suppression or fire use). When making decisions, fire managers consider the fire's proximity to private property, potential smoke impacts, fire fighter safety, and other fire activity occurring in the area. The main focus for fire fighting personnel still remains to hold the fire from spreading south toward the community of Kennedy Meadows.

On May 22, 2008 a three day storm hit the Kern Plateau bringing rain and snow. Almost a week later, on May 28^th Bald Mountain Fire Lookout tower reported a large active cell (lightning) moving over the Kern Plateau and observed several ground strikes.

Initial investigation into the lightning detection/reporting program did not show recent strikes in the Clover Fire vicinity. The detection program is a computer program which may have not recorded all strikes due to a glitch in the system.

Further information: Cindy Thill, Public Affairs Officer, Kern River Ranger District, at (760) 376-3781, extension 625 or cell (760) 417-0608.

CA-INF-Honeybee Fire - WUF fire- 370 acres

Honeybee Wildland Fire

Honeybee Fire perimeters - Geomac map
Credit: Geomac/California fire news

Honeybee Fire CA-INF2882, Fire is approximately 370 acres and burning North of HAIWEE PASS.
Resources: Incident is being staffed by a total of 8 personnel.
Fire behavior: Fire is putting up black smoke 1500-2000 feet in the air, picking up on the west side flanking with isolated tourching, east side making small runs and is being managed as a wildland fire use fire..