Yosemite NP - many parts closed due to fire

[Tiger4x4RV]

'Yosemite Valley, Wawona, and Mariposa Grove are closed at least July 25–July 29 due to fire operations. South Entrance will be also closed. Tioga Road and Tuolumne Meadows, including Big Oak Flat and Tioga Pass entrances, and Hetch Hetchy remain open.' (from the national park website just now)

For updates, see https://www.nps.gov/yose/index.htm

I am surprised that it has taken them so long to decide to do this. Thousands of tourists in the park, very limited number of roads in and out, unbreathable air. And it seems like the Ferguson Fire is just getting worse every day.


Hwy 140, the main route in from the west, has been closed for days.

[ppine]

This is very predictable as a forester. One hundred and twenty five years of fire suppression and little logging in the last 30 years. The woods are overstocked, brushed in and ripe for major fires. This will continue until people figure out that thinning, selective logging and prescribed fire are the tools to create fire resilience.

[bob213]

Smoke is so thick you can't see Half Dome from the valley floor. With the heat wave expected to continue this could get dangerous for everyone.

[BizmarksMom]

I was just coming here to post about this. Officials are telling everybody in the affected area to just get out, any way they can. It is unseasonably hot, and the fire is raging.