EVACUATIONS IN YOSEMITE DUE TO WILDFIRE
Photo courtesy National Park Service: Merced River with Half Dome in background
EVACUATIONS IN YOSEMITE DUE TO WILDFIRE
By Miriam Raftery
September 8, 2014 (Yosemite)--A wildfire burning in Yosemite National Park has forced closure of some of the Park’s most popular trails. Strong winds have whipped the fire into a 700 acre conflagration that on Sunday forced evacuation of over 100 hikers and climbers, including 40 on the trail to Half Dome, some airlifted out by helicopter.
The blaze is believed to have been sparked by the Meadows Fire, which began back on July 20th with a lightning strike in a remote wilderness region.
The Los Angeles Times reports that the Park Service initially let the fire burn to restore the region’s natural fire patterns, since it was at a very high elevation that didn’t threaten public safety. But now that winds have pushed flames into lower-lying forests, fire crews from the U.S. Forest Service, Cal Fire and other agencies are working to fully suppress the firestorm.
Thus far, the fire has not closed any roads. But trails in Little Yosemite Valley and Half Dome are closed, as well as trails at Merced Lake and Sunrise High Sierra Camps, Clouds Rest, and Echo Valley.
Currently, 7 helicopters, three air tankers, one air attack, six hotshot crews, and other resources are assigned to the fire, according to the Yosemite National Park’s fire blog website.
Visitors should call the fire information line before heading into the park. The phone number is (209) 372-0327.