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Washburn Fire Daily Update for July 19, 2022
Washburn Fire
Publication Type: News 07/19/2022
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/
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Location: Yosemite National Park, Mariposa Grove Percent Contained: 58%
Start Date: July 7, 2022 Cause: Under Investigation
Size: 4,863 acres Number of Personnel Assigned: 1,579
Weather/Fire Conditions: Firefighters continue to patrol and perform mop up operations along the western and south western portion of the fire. Patrol and mop up require our fire personnel to sift through the burned areas with hand tools in search of hot spots in order to extinguish them. This allows for residual smoke to dissipate as well as maintaining control of the containment line. Our crews continue to build and hold contingency line around Mount Raymond and hand crews dig hand line around Iron Creek drainage in hopes to gain containment on the eastern side of the incident. This fire area contains large amounts of both live and dead trees, high mortality from drought and associated beetle kill in 2016, as well as significant blow down producing heavy fuels from the winter’s Mono Wind storm. Temperatures will reach the high 80’s and relative humidity is predicted to be in the 25-28% range. Expect moderate smoke activity moving west due to the amount of heavy fuels burning in the eastern most percentage of the fire. Higher elevations will remain moderately clear while down drainage winds will provide for smoke accumulation in valleys. For a detailed look at smoke conditions: Washburn Fire Smoke Report
Wawona Repopulation: The community of Wawona continues to be open ONLY to Wawona residents and property owners, with restrictions including specific time slots and escorts. Please read the Wawona repopulation Frequently Asked Questions .
Closures: Wawona, Wawona Road (Hwy 41) south of Yosemite West, and the Mariposa Grove are closed to the general public until further notice. The South Entrance remains closed. All other areas of Yosemite National Park are open. Use El Portal Rd (Hwy 140) or Big Oak Flat Rd. (Hwy 120 East) or Tioga Rd (Hwy 120 West) to enter Yosemite. Reservations are still required from 6:00 am – 4:00 pm; visit www.recreation.gov.
Yosemite National Park Fire Restrictions: Starting July 16, fire restrictions are in effect below 8,000 feet of elevation and smoking is restricted park wide. The residences of Wawona, El Portal, and Foresta are on a strict fire restriction due to high potential fire danger. For more information please 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. For a detailed description including a map, please view the following link: Forest Order 05-15-00-22-15 Please be advised that USFS law enforcement is on patrol. We thank all members of the public for avoiding the closure area so that incident personnel may stay focused on the difficult and dangerous work that remains.
Media Access: Please send all media inquiries via our general phone line at (209)-819-7246 or via email to 2022.washburn@firenet.gov
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