CA-YNP- Yosemite September lightning Fires 127+ acres #Maps

Sunday, September 25, 2011

CA-YNP- Yosemite September lightning Fires 127+ acres #Maps

Yosemite Fires - Update #23 – September 26, 2011

The three most active lightning ignited fires have experienced moderate growth over the last few days. All fires are being monitored, patrolled or are staffed. Thunderstorm activity continued over the weekend, with measurable rain in some locations. The T-Storms are predicted to moderate through the coming week, with drier and warmer conditions. However, as warmer weather settles into the region, more smoke may become visible.

Yosemite September Tamarack Fire Perimeter Map

Yosemite September Smith lightning Fire Perimeter Map

Wilderness Fire Unit:
Smith (37 55.249 x 119 45.945; 6,300” el. Tuolumne Co. 9/14) It is at approximately 25 acres, with minimal growth over the last few days. It continues to burn in down and dead logs and duff with moderate fire activity. Smoke is visible in the afternoons with the southwest aspect drying of available fuels. Crews are on scene. The fire remains within the wilderness boundary. All trails through this area are closed: Cottonwood Creek, Smith Meadow, Smith Peak, and the Aspen Valley trails.

Tamarack (37 45.982 x 119 44.436; 7,700’el. Mariposa Co. 9/13). Over 101 acres have burned and the fire perimeter is 50% active, with 1’ to 2’ foot flame lengths, burning in red fire duff and forest litter. It is moving toward the north/northwest. The Tamarack Creek trail though the fire area is closed. It is approximately 1 mile northeast of Tamarack campground, and near the footprint of the 1988 Walker fire. Smoke is visible from many locations throughout the park, including the Tioga and Wawona Roads, Glacier Point and Sentinel Dome. Smoke has the potential to impact the Tamarack Campground in the late evening and early morning hours. Fire crews will be removing brush along the Tioga Road. Drivers are urged to use caution, and adhere to posted 25 mph speed limits when driving in the area of Gin Flat.

Cascade (37 45.879 x 119 41.846; 7,700’ el. Mariposa Co. 9/12) This fire has become more active and a smoke column is visible in the afternoons. It remains less than 1 acre. It is approximately 2.5 miles southeast of the Tamarack Campground near Ribbon Meadow.

The other 14 lightning caused ignition fires are either out or are not active.   Other fires may continue to be found during predicted drier weather this next week.

Bishop Creek Prescribed Fire: This proposed project is mostly in Wilderness and the primary objective is Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) protection. The project will buffer the communities of Yosemite West, Wawona, Glacier Point Historic District and El Portal, from unwanted wildfire by reducing an over accumulation of fuels. The project is 5,224 acres and is broken into five segments. It will build off the recent 1,068 acre Avalanche fire, other prescribed fires and mechanical thinning treatments in Yosemite’s Suppression and Wilderness Fire Management Units.    Additionally, this project is another step in restoring fire dependent forest ecosystems in Yosemite’s lower mixed conifer pine forest. More information about this project will be available on a separate Bishop Creek Prescribed Fire Information update.   The start date is to be determined, due to the number of naturally caused ignitions within the park.

For additional Information:

Fire Information and Education: Gary_Wuchner@nps.gov; (209) 375-9574 or (209) 372-0480.
Yosemite Fire Management Website: http://www.nps.gov/yose/parkmgmt/current_fire.htm.
Air Quality: http://www.nps.gov/yose/naturescience/aqmonitoring.htm
Park WEBCAMS: Park http://www.nps.gov/yose/photosmultimedia/webcams.htm

California Fire News 2011

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How fires get their names

Every year in California thousands of wildfires start throughout the state. In most cases, the dispatch center sending the initial resources to a wildland fire will designate a name for the fire, but the first on scene engine or fire official can also name the incident. Fires are usually named for the area in which they start – a geographical location, local landmark, street, lake, mountain, peak, etc. Quickly naming the fire provides responding fire resources with an additional locater, and allows fire officials to track and prioritize incidents by name. For example during the Southern California Fire Siege of 2003, the largest wildland fire in California history, the Cedar Fire in San Diego County, was named after the Cedar Creek Falls area where it started. The destructive Old Fire, which burned during the same time period in San Bernardino County, was named after the road along which it started - Old Waterman Canyon Road.

CAL FIRE is the largest fire department in California and the second largest fire department in the United States. CDF - CAL FIRE Firefighters answer the call more than 300,000 times a year. CAL FIRE Firefighters make up the fire department for 30 of our 58 counties in California and more than 100 local communities. We serve as the incident command during many of California’s most serious disasters. CAL FIRE Firefighters respond to many various types and forms of calls ranging from structural fires, to auto accidents, to earthquakes, to floods, to the spilling of hazardous materials, to every conceivable disaster; CAL FIRE answer's the calls. CAL FIRE is the largest fire department in California and the second largest fire department in the United States . CAL FIRE firefighters protect 33 million acres of State Responsibility Area (SRA). We have over 4,000 members within CAL FIRE and CAL FIRE is associated with the California Professional Firefighters (CPF) and the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF).

CFN - CALIFORNIA FIRE NEWS - CAL FIRE NEWS

Sunday, September 25, 2011