Re: Yosemite Fire Update – June 10, 2013

Forbidden (37 45.485 x -119 37.116; 7,400” el., Mariposa CO.) This lightning caused fire is approximately 32 acres. A single tree was struck by lightning on May 21, 2013. The fire is west of the Eagle Peak Meadow and Creek, a tributary of Yosemite Creek, and is north of Eagle Peak, on the north rim of Yosemite Valley. It is smoldering through surface fuels and duff in a red fir forest. Parts of the fire have been observed with 6-12 inch flame lengths, and there have been some torching of trees.

Smoke is visible from various locations in the park, including Tioga Rd, Sentinel Dome and Glacier Point. Fire managers are working with Mariposa County Air Pollution Control District concerning air quality impacts to nearby smoke sensitive areas. Fire crews utilized natural barriers to check the fire spread to the south, and will continue to monitor the fire for growth, direction of spread, fire behavior and smoke production.

The Forbidden Fire meets the park’s fire management objectives of firefighter and the public safety, as the fire presents few risks to values. The fire poses no threat to park service buildings, roads or infrastructure. When appropriate, fire crews will utilize pack stock for logistical support on this fire in an effort to preserve wilderness character. The fire was named for the Forbidden Wall along the Yosemite Falls trail.

Could see it (and smell it) from Ten Lakes Pass this weekend:

Here is the view of it from Half Dome on Friday. This will show you where it is exactly: Due west of the top of Yosemite Falls.







Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/12/2013 03:21PM by wherever.

For what little it is worth, I worked a series of small forest fires south of the Glacier Point Road in the summer of 1971 while a larger fire was occurring in the general area of this fire. My companions were desperate for food and water, but the fire commander on the larger fire was possibly over-stating his situation to maintain supply preference. We finally had to detail a man with tremendous heart/lung capacity to the nearest creek numerous times for drinking water. The same man also opened a box of rations that had been supplied from the larger fire - and found it full of canned crackers! That was my first introduction to fire politics and I haven't been surprised at what I've observed ever since.