Ignition of Rail Creek, Segment A, 1,400 acres of the 5,224 acre Bishop Creek prescribed fire unit, scheduled for this week has been postponed. A trough of cooler, moist air brought higher than expected relative humidity to the area which kept fuels moist. A test burn conducted on Monday, October 24 revealed that fire would not progress or consume fuels in a manner sufficient to meet the project’s objectives of reducing fuels. The burn is has been postponed until more favorable conditions exist. Fire fighter resources will shift this week to burning hand-piles created during mechanical treatments (thinning) over the past few years. The piles are located in the following areas of the park: Tuolumne County - Aspen Valley Road; Mariposa County - Merced Grove, Chinquapin, South Entrance Kiosk, Wawona Road between Bishop Creek and Mosquito Creek. Smoke may be visible from the pile burning operation. Please drive carefully in areas where smoke, fire fighters, and equipment may be along roadways. Smoke, which can affect health, is always a factor in the decision making process to conduct this and other prescribed fire projects. A smoke management plan for pile burning has been submitted to the Mariposa County Air Pollution Control District (APCD), and a burn permit has been issued. Tuolumne County, San Joaquin and Great Basin APCDs have been advised of this project.
