Yosemite National Park fire managers are planning a 148 acre Mariposa
Grove prescribed fire possibly starting on Sunday, October 2, 2016, weather and smoke dispersion conditions permitting. Ignition will take
approximately two days with an additional seven to 14 days of active burn down.
Smoke will be present during the prescribed fire in Mariposa Grove and the Wawona area. Fire managers
are working with the Mariposa County Air Pollution Control District (MCAPCD) to
time the project to coincide with favorable weather and smoke dispersion
conditions. Smoke, affecting health, is
always a consideration in the decision to schedule prescribed fires. A smoke management plan was submitted to
the MCAPCD and MCAPCD issued a burn permit.
An air monitor has been placed in Wawona to monitor particulate matter (PM), including PM from smoke.
Historically, natural fire burned an average of
16,000 acres annually in Yosemite National Park and played an integral role in
shaping Yosemite’s ecosystem. Yosemite’s
Fire Management Program works to balance the protection of life, property, and
natural and cultural resources with the restoration of fire as a natural
process. Due to decades of fire
suppression (actively putting out any fire that started), many areas have
become overgrown, unhealthy, and increasingly vulnerable to catastrophic
wildfire.
The Mariposa Grove project is near the top of the Grove from Wawona Point
to the south. Fire managers want to take
advantage of the Mariposa Grove closure to conduct the project. The Grove is closed
to the public because of a major restoration project. Burning at this time will
minimize impacts to public use. Burning in the Mariposa Grove is a continuous
process; the targeted areas have had 1-3 prescribed fires in the past 30 years,
and continued burning is required to maintain healthy forest conditions. Fire produces the optimum conditions for
Giant Sequoia reproduction and propagation.
Fire not only removes the accumulated layers of dead woody debris
exposing nutrient rich mineral soil, but dries the cones allowing the seeds to
shed. In addition, fire creates holes in
the forest canopy, while eliminating shade tolerate competition.
Park employees, community members, and visitors
can expect to see fire personnel from various federal and state agencies
conducting burning operations during the Mariposa Grove prescribed fire.
For More Information
Yosemite National
Park Fire Information website:
http://www.nps.gov/yose/blogs/fireinfo.htm.
Yosemite Wildland Fire Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Yosemite-Fire-and-Aviation-124632964255395/
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