Inciweb: UPDATED - Jack Wildland Fire - YNP - 855 acres - 50%

Jack Wildland Fire
Yosemite National Park

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INCIDENT UPDATED

South aspect, north of the community of Wawona
Credit: NPS

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Summary

The Jack Fire started on Oct. 29 from lightning associated with thunderstorms moving over the Park. Jack is located on the north and south sides of Turner Ridge north of Wawona. It was originally placed under wildland fire use management for resource benefits and public safety. On Nov. 8, the fire spread outside the fire use management zone causing a change in strategy. At this point, management actions were taken to slow fire spread south toward Wawona. Crews are constructing control line in areas that will inhibit future fire spread if necessary. At a public meeting held in Wawona Monday fire managers explained to community members that the prevailing conditions, shorter daylight hours, cooler nights and elevated moisture levels in the vegetation, are conducive to managing the fire until the weather puts it out. The fires this year in Lake Tahoe and Southern California are a reminder that is important to use fire as an ecological restoration tool as well as to create defensible space around fire prone communities.

Basic Information

Incident Type	Wildland Fire
Cause	Lightning
Date of Origin	10/29/2007 at 1500 hrs.
Location	1.5 miles north of Wawona
Incident Commander	Jeff Panetta

Current Situation

Total Personnel	49
Size	855 acres
Percent Contained	50%
Estimated Containment Date	12/15/2007 at hrs.
Fuels Involved	Primary vegetation involved is ponderosa pine/mixed conifer vegetation on northern portion of fire. Manzanita, buckbrush, and ceanothus persist on southern aspects.
Fire Behavior	Mostly moderate fire behavior observed yesterday - creeping and smoldering with occasional single tree torching. Low rates of spread on active portions of fire - fire mostly backing with some flanking.
Significant Events	Secured west flank of fire to Hwy 41 with blackline and burnout operation. Southern portion mostly contained with handline and burnout above community of Wawona.

Outlook

Planned Actions	Continue to construct indirect handline and burnout along southern portion of fire adjacent to the community of Wawona.
Projected Movement	12 hours: Fire will grow to the south toward indirect handline. Minimal spread will also occur to the north into sparser vegetation in Yosemite\\\'s wilderness. 24 hours: Fire will grow to the south toward indirect handline. Minimal spread will also occur to the north into sparser vegetation in Yosemite\\\'s wilderness. 48 hours: Fire should be approx. 90% contained and minimal spread will occur. 72 hours: Fire should be approx. 90% contained and minimal spread will occur.
Growth Potential	Medium
Terrain Difficulty	High
Remarks	Continued rollout due to extremely steep terrain and underslung handline is causing fire to continually re-kindle on southern portion of fire.

Weather

Current Wind Conditions	4-6 mph
Current Temperature	41 degrees
Current Humidity	30 %