Yosemite Fire Update #5

July 6, 2015
New lightning caused fires:
Thunderstorms came through the park starting July 1, and Yosemite National Park did receive six new lightning-caused
fires. Lightning-caused fires can take days or weeks to detect because vegetation has to dry out enough to create
smoke or visible flames after the storm passes over. Additional fires may be discovered.
Most of these fires are small; single tree strikes that amount to less than a tenth of an acre. These fires are in the
wilderness and are being monitored by either Yosemite fire crews hiking into the fire areas or via air reconnaissance
due to location, sparse fuels, and low growth potential.

Indian Canyon (37 47.532 x 119 35.148 - Mariposa Co. at 7200 el., July 3). This fire is between the
Tioga Rd and the Yosemite Valley. It is less than .1 acre in size. It is smoldering and creeping, with a low rate of
spread, and is burning in two snags within timber and needle cast. It is an area of few recent fires.
McGurk ( No Lat x long - Mariposa Co. at 7800 el., July 2). This fire is within the McGurk Meadow, near a
trail to Dewey Point from Glacier Point Road. It has low potential for spread, and was found to be in a single
green lodgepole pine. It is surrounded by green grass, and is smoldering in a short needle/lodgepole pine forest
around meadow. It has little potential for spread.
Porcupine Flat (37 48.962 x 119 34.416 - Mariposa Co., at 8000, July 3). The top of a single green red
fir tree was struck by lightning. There is no ground fire, but smoke may be seen from the Tioga Road. It has low
potential for growth.
Smokey Jack ( 37 49.693 x 119 41.189 - Tuolumne Co., at 8000 el., July 3). A single tree was struck.
This fire has low to moderate spread potential as it is smoldering and creeping with no visible flame lengths.
White Cascade (37 54.926 x 119 23.780 - Tuolumne Co, at 9000 el., July 3). This is a remote fire near
Glen Aulin High Sierra camp and west of Tuolumne Meadows. It poses no threat to trails and has a low spread
potential. It is creeping and smoldering through surface fuels. Smoke or haze may be visible in the area.

Fires declared out:

The Deer Lick Fire, (July 2). It was along the Wawona Road, north of Wawona was suppressed by Yosemite
Valley Engine crew Thursday night. It was near the Wawona Road and south of the community of Wawona. It
was declared out Friday July 3.
Yosemite Creek (37 50.310 x 119 21.813 Mariposa Co., 8,020, June 7). This lightning caused fire has
been declared out.

As with all fires, staff and visitor safety is of paramount importance. Each fire, regardless of size, is assessed for
the appropriate course of action. At this time there are no road or trail closures and the park remains open.
Smoke is staying local over the fires and has not been observed traveling to any smoke sensitive areas.
All visitors are urged to use established campgrounds for fires. In all campfires, when departing, please be sure fires
are completely out.
Thank you for your continued interest in Yosemite Fire and Aviation Management.

For More Information

Fire information: gary_wuchner@nps.gov, (209) 372-0480

Yosemite Web: http://www.nps.gov/yose/blogs/fireinfo.htm.

Air Quality three sites are listed: ; http://smoke.airfire.org/monitoringReport/#/?
monitors=060431001&monitors=NPS.YOS1003.Ebam&monitors=Yosemite.NP.1&date=LATEST&productType=plotTable
; http://www.californiasmokeinfo.blogspot.com/ & http://viewer.smoke.airfire.org/run/standard/CANSAC2km/2015062200/
Yosemite National Park Web page: Yosemite Wildland Fire Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Yosemite
-Wildland-Fire/12463296455395