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Yosemite Fire

PostPosted: Thu Aug 27, 2009 2:06 pm
by oakroscoe
http://www.recordcourier.com/article/20 ... 79996/1049


The haze in Carson Valley this morning is coming from the 300-acre Big Meadow burning on Yosemite National Park.

The fire is a prescribed burn that jumped a holding line and is burning. About 100 firefighters are working on the blaze and expect to have it contained by Tuesday.

Visitors to Yosemite Valley from the eastern entrance will have to leave the park and take Highway 49 south to the junction with Highway 140, according to the National Park Service.

.........................

I had heard that this was a planned burn that got out of control.

My question is: what fire "expert" starts a planned burn in august? The height of the fire season, and they do a planned burn?

PostPosted: Thu Aug 27, 2009 7:34 pm
by Wickett
Here is a feed for the fire area. Every time you view the thread the picture is updated.

Image

PostPosted: Thu Aug 27, 2009 8:31 pm
by AlmostThere
I'm kinda pissed - this is screwing up my whole weekend if they don't open the road. :evil: :evil: :evil:

PostPosted: Thu Aug 27, 2009 10:27 pm
by Dave Miller
I can totally relate! I'm headed out tomorrow with some visitors from Germany. My plan was to show them the valley tomorrow and then hike to Cathedral Lakes on Saturday. Looks like we will be spending all of our time in the Tuolumne area!

PostPosted: Mon Aug 31, 2009 12:36 pm
by oakroscoe
Here's the latest:

Update: August 31, 2009 Morning
As wildfires rage out of control across California, threatening thousands, the Big Meadow Fire in Yosemite National Park and Stanislaus National Forest, California, has grown from 4,382 to 4,909 acres. The Big Meadow Fire was set by Yosemite National Park Fire Crews on August 26, 2009 as a prescribed burn and shortly thereafter, the fire grew out of the prescription lines.
Current Situation from InciWeb: "The fire continues to burn actively (a large column of smoke was visible yesterday) in the wilderness towards Tioga Road near Tamarack Flat and northwest in Upper Crane Creek drainage. Today, firefighters will continue to aggressively build indirect fire line away from the fires edge. The strategy is to use indirect fire line along with opportunities to conduct burnout operations (when conditions safely permit) to stop the forward progress of the fire. Firefighters will also continue to reinforce fire lines east of El Portal and around Foresta. No major fire activity was reported in these areas."
Special Announcements: Due to fire operations, the Tioga Road between Crane Flat and White Wolf may close or access may be limited at any time today. Visitors on the east side can access Tuolumne Meadows, Olmsted Point, and White Wolf. However, through travel may be limited or restricted at any time.
Public Meeting: A fire update meeting is scheduled for El Portal on Monday, August 31, at 6:30 pm at the El Portal School.
Road Closures: The Big Oak Flat Road from Crane Flat Gas Station to the intersection of El Portal Road and Big Oak Flat Road. Road Closures information is available by calling 209-372-2000.
Trail Closures: Old Big Oak Flat Trailhead to El Capitan, Rockslides to El Capitan, Tamarack Creek to El Capitan.
Campground Closures: Tamarack and Crane Flat Campgrounds.
The fire is 55% contained.
--Information from NPS via InciWeb
For additional fire information please visit InciWeb. In addition, visitors may call 209-372-0669 or 209-372-0327 for updated fire information during business hours.
You can also follow on Twitter (@YosemiteNPS) for updates.