Yosemite fire brings smoke to Tahoe
Smoke from a fire in Yosemite is visible in the Lake Tahoe Basin. Photo/Kathryn Reed
By Anderea Castillo, Modesto Bee
Hikers in Yosemite National Park were evacuated by helicopter after a wildfire spread Sunday afternoon.
Tim Ludington of the National Park Service said the Meadow fire, which was started by lightning in mid-July adjacent to Mount Starr King, grew with strong winds and hot temperatures, creating a spot fire.
The fire has since dropped into Little Yosemite Valley and crossed the Merced River. About 400 acres have burned on both sides of the valley.
Gary Wuchner, also of the Park Service, said evacuations were underway for hikers near the Sunrise Trail, where the fire was burning behind Clouds Rest. He said four Type 1 helicopters carrying 1,000 gallons of water, three Type 2 helicopters carrying 200-gallon buckets and one air tanker carrying at least 1,000 gallons of fire retardant were attacking the fire.
Wuchner said six Hotshot crews of 20 people each were expected to arrive Sunday evening along with Yosemite fire crews. He said it takes firefighters about a day to hike into the remote area.
Ludington said the fire is expected to keep growing.
“We just got unbelievable crazy winds and unexpected hot conditions,” he said. “The fire behavior totally changed. There is a huge plume.”
Does anyone else find it completely idiotic that the fire crews left this July lightning strike fire burning?
With extreme drought conditions and varying temperatures, I don’t think August and September are a good time for controlled burns.
It is not unusual for some naturally caused wildfires to be left alone to burn in wilderness areas where there is no danger to humans or property. It is unfortunate that this fire has blown up and the erratic winds are to blame. Time will tell if this wildfire has any real threat besides just being ugly and smokey. Be safe firefighters!
Thanks “go figure;” as you know you’re absolutely correct – fire being a natural event in any healthy forest, unlike tourists, I think it’s admirable that both the National Park Service and the U S Forest Service try to let fire take its natural course – despite demands to groom and civilize forests to the whim of the tourists.
I was in Tuolumne Meadows a few days ago and a smoky fire was burning just below Cathedral Peak. And being mostly, and properly ignored.
Come on. I totally believe in letting a fire take it’s natural course if the conditions and forecast models justify it. Somebody here obviously didn’t do their homework and now we pay the price tag. Already one firefighter hurt, lets hope no more.