WHAT DOES “YOSEMITE FIRE” MEANS?

Yosemite's natural and fundamental component is fire. We carefully control fire, research how it affects the ecosystems of the park, put out fires that are started by humans or pose a risk to people or property, and manage fires.

In spite of the extreme heat and dryness, firefighters were able to prevent the growth of a wildfire close to Yosemite National Park.

The fire, which spread to 16,700 acres over the course of a hot weekend, forced evacuations. In the Sierra Nevada Mountains, some 280 miles north of Los Angeles, the Mariposa County fire is located just outside Yosemite National Park.

In difficult terrain, almost 2,000 firefighters are battling fires using aircraft and bulldozers. Monday morning, containment was at 10%. Due to dry, dead, and downed fuels, the fire remained active in several parts throughout the evening. "The firefight goes on in the hot, dry, and difficult terrain."

While air tankers dropped retardant on 50-foot flames racing along ridgetops east of the little settlement, crews on the ground guarded homes. Ahead, embers were blown onto tree branches by light winds. Spot fires are escalating quickly due to the dry undergrowth.

YOSEMITE FIRE CAUSES:

The blaze began on Friday in Mariposa County, southwest of the park and close to the community of Midpines. On Saturday, when flames made sweeps through skeletally dry foliage brought on by the worst drought in decades, it characterised "explosive fire behaviour."The cause is being looked into. Over 6000 residents of the thinly populated area in the Sierra Nevada foothills were ordered to evacuate, but a small number of individuals disobeyed the orders and stayed behind.

At least ten residential and commercial buildings were destroyed by flames, while five more were damaged. Teams of assessors were travelling around mountain towns to look for any new damage.As a result of climate change, which has made the West much warmer and drier over the past 30 years, Yosemite has recently seen an increase in the size and fatality rate of wildfires. According to scientists, extreme weather conditions will persist, and wildfires will continue to be more frequent, destructive, and unpredictable. After burning for two weeks and spreading into the Sierra National Forest, the fire was about 80% contained.

AFFECTED PEOPLE BY THE YOSEMITE FIRE:

41 buildings have been destroyed by the Yosemite Fire. There have been no reported injuries. In Sierra Nevada, it has compelled more than 6,000 people to evacuate their homes.

EVACUATION ORDERS DUE TO THE YOSEMITE FIRE:

They were still in place on Tuesday for a number of communities close to the Yosemite Fire; however, some residents were permitted to return to specific locations. On Monday, as the fire advanced toward the northeast, 300,000 gallons of water were dropped from helicopters over it.The Sierra National Forest has put in place fire restrictions and closures close to the fire area.

CAN PEOPLE VISIT YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK?

During peak hours, Yosemite National Park is accessible to tourists with reservations, according to the National Park Service. About 36 miles southwest of Yosemite Valley, in Midpines, is where the fire started.A combination of recent precipitation, snowfall, and colder temperatures have decreased the risk of fire in Yosemite National Park, allowing the superintendent to withdraw fire restrictions that had been in place earlier in the year.

DAMAGES FROM A YOSEMITE FIRE:

Within Yosemite National Park, all active fires have been completely put out. In Yosemite Valley's units 11 and 16, fire personnel will carry out a prescribed burn from Thursday, October 21, to Saturday, October 23.Yosemite has experienced 12 human-caused fires and 50 lightning-started fires. To put out, watch over, or contain these fires in Yosemite's fire-adapted ecosystems, the park is using a variety of tactics. There are currently three ongoing fires; two have been put out, and one is being put out with the use of control lines and natural barriers. In Yosemite, smoke from nearby fires may be visible.

RESTRICTING IMPLICATIONS OF THE YOSEMITE FIRE:

Yosemite National Park is immediately implementing park-wide fire restrictions below 8,000 feet of elevation to lessen the threat of human-caused wildfires owing to the elevated fire danger and increased risk to the general population, park personnel, and first responders.For the calendar year 2021, Yosemite has experienced 11 human-caused fires and 41 lightning-started fires. In order to control, monitor, or contain these fires across Yosemite's fire-adapted ecosystems, fire management has adopted a variety of tactics.All active flames are being closely monitored, with the exception of the fire, which is entirely controlled and has a low likelihood of spreading because of a number of natural obstacles.