YNP: Yosemite National Park Pile Burning Update

Thursday, May 19, 2011

YNP: Yosemite National Park Pile Burning Update

Pile burning postponed, due to very damp fuels, in Foresta. Fifty piles were completed in the Foresta area Monday, May 17, 2011.

Wawona Area Pile Burning

Pile burning began in the Bill’s Hill area of Wawona May 17, 2011. Firefighters were able to burn approximately 50 piles in rain, with good consumption, and little smoke impacts to the community.

Burning will be conducted on permissive burn days with favorable weather to disperse and minimize smoke. Although, people with smoke sensitive respiratory conditions are advised to take precautions to minimize smoke impacts and use caution when exerting themselves in smoky areas.

Pile burning is an effective method of removing accumulated burnable vegetation from the forest floor. When combined with other treatments, mechanical thinning or prescribed fire, piles are a relatively fast and an inexpensive method to restore fire dependent forest systems and to eliminate hazardous fuels near communities. Pile burning helps create “firebreaks” that fire managers can utilize for future prescribed fire projects or to defend against unwanted wild fire. The cool temperatures and continuing winter like conditions, predicted for this week, will make the Wawona area project easier to manage with minimal staffing and which further reduces costs.

For additional information:
Gary Wuchner
Fire Education and Information Manager
Yosemite National Park
PO Box 577
Yosemite, CA 95389
(209) 372-0480
(209) 742-8990 (cell)
gary_wuchner@nps.gov

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Thursday, May 19, 2011