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Washburn Fire

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Unit Information

P.O. Box 577 
Yosemite National Park, 
95389 
P.O. Box 577 
Yosemite National Park, 
95389 

Incident Contacts

  • Yosemite Fire Information
    Email:
    yose_fire_info@nps.gov
    Phone:
    209-379-1493
  • Media Inquiries
    Phone:
    1-925-588-6749
    Hours:
    8 AM - 8 PM

Washburn Fire Daily Update for July 23, 2022

Washburn Fire
Publication Type: News 07/23/2022
Location: Yosemite National Park, Mariposa Grove                      Percent Contained: 79%
Start Date: July 7, 2022                                                                 Cause: Human Caused/Under Investigation      
Size: 4,856 acres                                                                             Number of Personnel Assigned: 1,330
Fire Information: Office Hours: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM                   Phone: 209-819-7246 
Email: 2022.washburn@firenet.gov                                               Online Updates: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8209/
Facebook: Yosemite NP     Sierra NF                                             Twitter: Yosemite NP     Sierra NF
Instagram: Yosemite NP                                                                 Website: Yosemite NP     Sierra NF
 

California Interagency Incident Management Team 15 (CAIIMT15) assumed command of the Washburn Fire yesterday evening at 7pm.  CAIIMT15 is led by Incident Commander Jim Harris.

Highway 41 Reopening- Highway 41 (Wawona Rd.) has reopened as of 6:00 am on Saturday, July 23 . Visitors are permitted  to travel  from the South Entrance to Yosemite Valley. Reservations are still required.

Washburn Fire Update- The fire is burning within an area rated as “Exceptional Drought”, the most severe rating issued by the U.S. Drought Monitor. This rating is caused by several years of persistent drought and a year that has received approximately 50% of normal rainfall. These drought conditions have left dead fuels in and around the fire area at record dry levels. Due to the hard work of fire resources, most of the fire perimeter is holding within control lines. 

Today, activity is expected to be isolated to the interior portions of the fire as the extremely dry ground fuels continue to burn themselves out with limited threat to the control lines. Hotshot and helitack crews will continue to staff the remote and rugged sections of the fire along the south fork of the Merced River and the portion above Iron Creek. A persistent warm and dry weather pattern will remain in place with high temperatures in the upper 80s, minimum humidity of 15%, and afternoon westerly winds around 15 mph over the upper elevations.

Oak Fire- A new fire has started outside of  Yosemite National Park boundaries called the Oak Fire.  The Oak Fire started on Carstens Road near Highway 140, in the Midpines area of Mariposa County, cause is under investigation.  CAL FIRE and US Forest Service- Sierra National Forest are responding unified command.  For more information call 844-MMU-FIRE (844-668-3473) or visit https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2022/7/22/oak-fire/

Wawona Repopulation: The community of Wawona is open ONLY to Wawona residents, property owners, and NPS employees. Please read the Wawona repopulation Frequently Asked Questions. And for any alerts in Yosemite National Park keep updated by visiting: http://www.nps.gov/yose/learn/news/repopulation.htm   Yosemite National Park Fire Restrictions: Fire restrictions are in effect below 8,000 feet of elevation and smoking is restricted park wide until further notice. The residences of Wawona, El Portal, and Foresta are on a strict fire restriction due to extreme potential fire danger. For more information visit:  Yosemite National Park Fire Restrictions Sierra National Forest Washburn Fire Closure Order: The Washburn Fire is active on the Sierra National Forest. To aid firefighters and protect the public, the Sierra National Forest has a Fire Closure Forest Order effective from July 15, 2022 through August 1, 2022. The lands affected are less than 3% of the 1.3 million acre Sierra National Forest. The 8 closed roads are on the Bass Lake Ranger District: Road 5S06 Mtn. Raymond Rd, 5S22 Big Sandy Rd, 5S43 White Chief Mtn. Rd, 6S10 Sky Ranch Rd, 5S40Y Lost Lake Rd, 5S40Z Lost Lake Rd, 5S04 Chiquito Lake Rd, 5S70A Red Top Rd. Tip Line: If you were at or near the Mariposa Grove on July 7, 2022, please contact the NPS Investigative Services Branch (ISB)         Call/Text – (888)-653-0009    Email- nps_isb@nps.gov Online: Submit a Tip

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