After four years of planning and preparing the area for the Taft Toe Prescribed Fire, it will begin today. Ignitions are projected to start at approximately 8AM and continue through the day on the 111 acre unit. The burn unit is along South Side Drive near the El Capitan Crossover and extends east to the 4 Mile Trail. The project is south of the road.

The south side of the Valley Loop Trail from near El Capitan Crossover to Four Mile Trail will be closed for several days (The Four Mile Trail will remain open).

This Taft Toe Prescribed Fire project is projected to take approximately a day and half to complete. Smoke will be visible along South Side Drive. Predicted cooler temperatures and possible rain will aid in clearing smoke from the Valley. A burn permit has been issued by Mariposa County Air Pollution Control District.

Map and more details here: http://www.nps.gov/yose/blogs/Taft-Toe-Prescribed-Fire.htm
Based on webcam views yesterday, it may make things pretty smokey in the Valley for the weekend unless wind helps clear it out

Taft Toe prescribed fire ignitions are completed. The 111 acre Taft Toe prescribed fire project began on Thursday morning at approximately 9 AM, October 15, and was successfully completed at 6:15 PM. There will be an additional 3 to 5 five days for logs and other vegetation to completely burn out. Weather conditions were optimal to complete the burn project ahead of the estimated one and half days of planned ignitions. Air quality is predicted to improve each day. Yosemite fire crews were assisted by 1 engine from the Stanislaus National Forest and 2 CAL FIRE Mt Bullion hand crews. This project has been on the planned and prepped for over 4 years. Thank you to Yosemite fire crews and assisting agencies by completing this project safely.

Thanks. Just looked at the Glacier Point webcam. Air looks fairly clear.

Plenty of rain, clouds, thunder, lightning, and fog in the Valley - so the fire is no longer a factor.