Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Here's how you know

Single Publication

Zoom to your location
Reset map zoom and position

Could not determine your location.

2023 - York Fire

Unit Information

2701 Barstow Road 
Barstow, 
92311 
2701 Barstow Road 
Barstow, 
92311 

Incident Contacts

  • Mojave National Preserve
    Email:
    moja_info@nps.gov
    Phone:
    760-252-6100
    Hours:
    9am to 5pm

York Fire Update - 7/31/2023 - 9:00 PM

2023 - York Fire
Publication Type: News 08/03/2023

Start Date: Monday, July 28, 2023, at 12:09 pm          

Percent Contained: 0%          

Size: 77,000 Acres          

Location: San Bernardino County, CA          

Cause: Undetermined          

Vegetation: Timber (Litter & Understory), Brush          

Number of Personnel Assigned: 389          

 

The York Fire remains under investigation, it started on a private land inholding within the Mojave National Preserve.

The Mojave Desert has a vibrant history. Before contact with the Europeans changed their world, the Chemehuevi lived on prickly pear, mesquite and roasted agave blooms and hunted deer and bighorn sheep. They resided in the Kingston, New York, and Providence Mountains west to Soda Dry Lake and south to the Whipple Mountains. Mojave tribal peoples were concentrated along the Colorado River and the Mojave trail became their main trading route.

Today firefighters continued working to gaining containment while observing less fire activity then in previous days. This means the fire’s intensity and spread were relatively low, which help in their containment efforts and reduced the risk to property and lives.

Tonight, firefighters will continue to focus on containment and suppression efforts. Limited visibility due to thick smoke is a challenge the firefighters are facing. With visibility up to a mile or less in some areas it has a significant implication and causes hazardous conditions, hindering firefighting operations as it affects aerial support, ground crews’ movement, and communications between firefighting units.

If weather conditions permit, an infrared mapping flight will take place in the early morning hours to obtain better map data for firefighting resources.  This firefighting effort is an ongoing coordinated effort between resources from the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, San Bernardino Fire Protection District, and Clark County Fire. Additional, resources have been ordered to assist in these efforts.

As always, it's important to stay updated on official information and follow safety instructions given by local authorities. If you're in the vicinity of the fire, please take necessary precautions to ensure your safety and the safety of those around you.

Road and Area Closures: Hart Mine Road from Walking Box Ranch to Ivanpah are CLOSED in the area due to continued fire activity. These closures are due to hazardous wildfire conditions and fire suppression operations. Please stay clear of the area. All campgrounds are now OPEN in the Preserve. Please visit https://go.nps.gov/MojaveConditions  for more details.

Smoke Effects: Smoke from the fire is reaching into Nevada and southern Utah. For current smoke impacts and for tips on managing your exposure of wildfire smoke, please visit Airnow.gov; also visit Nevada’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources at Smoke Smart: Pro Tips to Protect your Family from Wildfire Smoke | DCNR (nv.gov)

Clark County, Nevada Impacts: The York Fire is working closely with Clark County Communications to provide timely and accurate information to the public. If you have any questions regarding what is occurring specifically with the residential areas of Nipton and Searchlight, please visit https://www.clarkcountynv.gov/newslist.php or follow on twitter at https://twitter.com/ ClarkCountyN