Published Saturday, July 16, 2022, 2100 hours PT
YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, CALIFORNIA — Fire Officials are looking to the public for assistance with their investigation to determine the cause of the wildfire.
The Washburn Fire ignited from an unknown source on July 6, 2022, in the Mariposa Grove area. They are asking those with information to contact their Investigative Services Branch @SpecialAgentNPS by CALL/TEXT 888-653-0009, EMAIL nps_isb@nps.gov or ONLINE go.nps.gov/SubmitATip
OPEN ONLY TO WAWONA RESIDENTS AND PROPERTY OWNERS restrictions including specific time slots and escorts on Sunday, July 17, 2022, at 0800 hours. You must provide a photo ID and proof of residency document. For more details, go to the National Park website on Inciweb for details on this restricted travel alert found at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/8209/69689/
EXPECTED Fire behavior includes temps and conditions to remain warm and dry, with active to very active with possible group torching, backing, and uphill runs. Fire fuels include large amounts of both live and dead trees, high mortality from the drought and beetle kill in 2015-2016, as well as blow-down from a Mono Wind which happened in January of 2021.
RESOURCES include Operations Section Chief, Matt Ahearn with the California Interagency Team 13, over approximately 1,583 total fire personnel.
ABOUT YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK: It is a National Park that has almost 1,200 square miles of mountainous views with high cliffs, deep valleys, tall waterfalls, ancient giant sequoias, and a large wilderness area. Millions of people visit the Park annually.
RESTRICTIONS IN EFFECT for Fires, starting today, for areas below 8,000 feet of elevation and smoking is restricted park-wide. Homes located in El Portal and Foresta are on a high (strict) fire restriction due to high potential fire danger.
Travel Restrictions include the closure of Hwy 41 to the public from the South Entrance to Henness Ridge Road. The west entrance remains accessible from the northern side of Wawona Road. Mariposa is closed until further notice.
ABOUT 4,822 acres have been burned but there is a 39% total containment status reached.
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