Eight new wildfires started in Yosemite National Park on Wednesday, August 12th, all of which have been attributed to early morning lightning. According to the National Park Service, no site closures or evacuations have been implemented as of Thursday, August 13th.
Aspen Valley Area
Two new fires were discovered on August 12th in the Aspen Valley area, one of which has reached over 1 acre. The Ackerson Fire started less than 1 miles west of Aspen Valley at an elevation of 6,300 feet. It’s grown to around 1.5 acres and is at 50% containment.
The Long Fire, which sits at an elevation of 6,000 feet, is quite a bit smaller, sitting at just 1/10th of an acre. It is contained and unstaffed.
Glacier Point Road Area
The Glacier Point Road area saw quite a few more wildfires start on August 12th. The Grouse Fire is located at Grouse Creek less than 1 mile from Wawona Road. It’s grown to 2 acres as of August 13th and sits at 30% containment. The Steamboat Fire, located in the top 1/3rd of the Grouse creek drainage also less than 1 mile from Wawona Road, is just 1/10th of an acre in size.
The Crocker Fire is also at 1/10th of an acre, sitting less than 1 miles from Inspiration trail at an elevation of 7,000 feet. It’s currently uncontained. The Dewey Fire is a bit more complicated, sitting over a cliff edge near Dewey Point at an elevation of 7,300 feet. Like many of the other fires, it is also uncontained. Lastly the McGurk Fire located ¼ of a mile east of Dewey Point north of Inspiration Trail sits at an elevation of 7,000 feet, is 1/10th of an acre, and is uncontained.
Yosemite National Park Fire Restrictions
Fire restrictions are currently in effect throughout Yosemite National Park below 8,000 feet in elevation, aiming to reduce the risk of human-caused wildfires. The restrictions prohibit building, maintaining, attending, or using wood or charcoal fires including twig stoves and smoking except in specific locations and under specific conditions.
Designated front-country campgrounds and picnic areas that are open and where wood or charcoal fires are allowed are exempt from the restrictions. Smoking is allowed within an enclosed vehicle, in designated front-country campgrounds and picnic areas, in designated smoking areas, and while stopped in an area at least3 feet in diameter that is barren or has been cleared of vegetation and flammable material.
Visitors to Yosemite National Park are encouraged to check fire restrictions on the Park Conditions website before arrival.