The lightning caused fires of July continue to burn in Yosemite wilderness and are being managed for multiple objectives. This means fire managers and firefighters may use less aggressive or minimal actions where the fire is accomplishing benefits on the land. For example, the fire may burn the understory of trees, ridding the area of accumulations of dead and down vegetation and accumulations of needle and leaf litter.

All fires listed are being monitored and data is being collected (fuel moistures and weather) to determine what actions will be taken. In wilderness areas, Minimum Impact Management Tactics (MIMT) are utilized by using natural barriers of rock and lakes, or utilizing trails and past fires thereby lessening the use of aggressive hand tools, i.e. chain saws. Utilizing the minimal tool and natural features further reduces the work needed to rehabilitate the fire area. Firefighters do this without diverting their attention from the safety of themselves or the public. These adjustments firefighters make to effect minimum resource impacts are essential if the spirit of wilderness and National Parks is to be maintained.

Slope fire: (37 54.572 x 119 40.924; 6900’ el., Tuolumne Co). The slope fire grew to approximately 600 acres over the weekend. The growth of the fire has slowed, as a fast moving thunderstorm over the fire area dropped .10 of an inch of rain. Smoke production has diminished for the same reason. The blacklining operation conducted last week, and efforts by the helicopter with water buckets to hold the fire on the west perimeter, have also contributed to less smoke production. Winds from the southwest are moving the light smoke to the northeast. Smoke may continue to be visible along Tioga Rd, White Wolf area, O’Shaughnessy Dam of the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, Rancheria trail area, and in the Tuolumne Meadows area. The fire remains a creeping surface fire. The most active part of the fire is to the east, and northeast. The mixed conifer forest is on a north aspect, with cedar and white fir trees, down tree limbs and compacted short needles as the predominate vegetation

All trails in the Harden Lake area are now open, as is Harden Lake. Hikers are reminded to stay on trails through the fire area.

The National Weather Service is predicting unseasonably favorable air smoke dispersion for the Slope fire, with no long term air stagnation in the forecast through the week. A trough will be overhead with transport winds from the southwest. Temperatures will remain below normal with high humidities through the rest of the week. Early morning smoke may be present down the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne, with clearing by late morning.

New Fire:

Vernon: (37 59.813 x 119 43.618; approximately 7000’ el., Tuolumne Co.) This fire is the result of the thunderstorm activity on Sunday, August 8, 2010. It was found by the park helicopter on Monday, August 9, and reported to be a 20x30’ area, with a single tree being hit by the lightning. This fire is in designated wilderness, and is approximately three miles north of Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. Firefighters will hike into the fire area to determine monitoring needs.

Other fires:
The Tuolumne and the Wildcat fires are both inactive.