Fire
Authorities have issued a mandatory evacuation of the small town of Wawona, CA due to the increasing size of the South Fork Fire in Yosemite National Park, CA.
Air quality in Yosemite is pretty nasty due to this fire and others.
The South Fork Fire began on August 13th, 2017 and is now only 10% contained and its cause is unknown.
There are currently 522 personnel assigned to the fire: 13 hand crews, 7 helicopters, 13 engines.
Wawona has a population of 1,000-2,000 residents.
There are currently 2 fires burning in Yosemite National Park, CA.
South Fork Fire Incident Overview
by Inciweb
August 20th, 2017
The fire grew minimally yesterday as thunderstorms skirted the perimeter. Mandatory evacuations will remain in place in Wawona for the area east of Highway 41 on Forest Dr. and Chilnualna Falls Rd.
The fire remains active in all divisions. Crews are working in steep and inaccessible terrain with heavy fuel loads. Firefighters will continue to strengthen the firelines located east of Wawona and suppress spot fires occurring on the south of the South Fork of the Merced. A combination of firing operations, air support, and direct line construction will continue.
Aircraft will assist ground crews when conditions allow generally beginning mid-day. Strategic objectives remain the same: utilize air and ground resources to hold the western and southern flanks while monitoring the northern and eastern edges. Minimal Impact Suppression Tactics are being used in the Yosemite Wilderness to manage the area of the fire, using natural barriers such as rocks or streams, trails, and other minimal disturbance methods to contain the fire.
Thunderstorm activity is expected to cause erratic winds over the fire area throughout the week.
There are currently 522 personnel assigned to the fire: 13 hand crews, 7 helicopters, 13 engines.
For additional information:
- Rapid Notify is a community alert system for rapid event notifications. Register by visiting http://www.rapidnotify.com/customer/Yosemite.html or https://alert.rapidnotify.com/.
- Nixle is a public-safety notification system. Sign up for emergency alerts by texting 95389 to 888-777 or visit their website at www.nixle.com
- Fire Information: Yose_Fire_Info@nps.gov
- Yosemite National Park Fire Information website: http://www.nps.gov/yose/blogs/fireinfo.htm
- Facebook, search: Yosemite Fire and Aviation
- Twitter, search @YosemiteFire : http://www.twitter.com/YosemiteFire
- Air Quality: https://www.nps.gov/yose/learn/nature/aqmonitoring.htm or Current PM2.5 conditions
Basic Information
| Current as of | 8/20/2017, 8:10:45 PM |
|---|---|
| Incident Type | Wildfire |
| Cause | Unknown |
| Date of Origin | Sunday August 13th, 2017 approx. 02:30 AM |
| Location | .75 mile east of the community of Wawona |
| Incident Commander | Deron Mills |
| Incident Description | Supression |
Current Situation
| Total Personnel | 758 |
|---|---|
| Size | 3,191 Acres |
| Percent of Perimeter Contained | 10% |
| Estimated Containment Date | Sunday September 03rd, 2017 approx. 12:00 AM |
| Fuels Involved | Timber (Litter and Understory) Brush (2 feet) |
| Significant Events | Moderate, running, torching |
Outlook
| Planned Actions | Holding operation and line construction continue on the west flank of the fire. Suppression of spot fire west of Division A continues. Spot fires in Division X continue to show up and require suppression activity. Strengthening of contingency lines around the community of Wawona continues. Natural barriers are being utilized as much as possible. As inversions lift, air resources are utilized to aid crews in line construction. Security for area closures and security in evacuated areas. |
|---|---|
| Projected Incident Activity | 12 hours: Mandatory evacuations will remain in place for Wawona. Fire remained active along the western and southern flanks following yesterday’s thunderstorms. Crews continued to strengthen contingency lines located east of Wawona. Heavy inversions continue to grounded aircraft until late afternoon, when these inversions lift fire activity increases.
24 hours: Mandatory evacuations will remain in place for Wawona. Continue to aggressively suppress fire spread toward community of Wawona on west flank of fire. Continue to aggressively suppress spot fires occurring south of the South Fork Merced River. Additional water drops along spot fires on southern flank. 48 hours: Mandatory evacuations will remain in place for Wawona. Continue to aggressively suppress fire spread toward community of Wawona on west flank of fire. 72 hours: Secure south edge of fire and keep contained to south fork of Merced, secure west flank. |
| Remarks | Thunderstorm activity is expected to cause erratic winds over the fire area through mid-week. Gusty erratic winds associated with thunderstorms could cause problematic fire activity in Division A and the firing operations should they materialize. Crews continue to spike in an effort to utilize as much daylight as possible. The west flank of the fire is approximately 1/4 mile east of Wawona. The fire continues to pose a threat to Wawona, the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias. A combination of firing operations, air support, direct line construction and use of natural barriers are the current tactics being implemented to meet protection objectives. |
Current Weather
| Weather Concerns | A weak area of low pressure will remain anchored off the Southern California coast through Wednesday and bring a threat of thunderstorms to mainly the Sierra each afternoon and evening. Generally light slope and terrain winds can be expected through the period. However, winds will be gusty and erratic in the vicinity of thunderstorms. Little diurnal change in temperatures and humidity is expected through the period. |
|---|
