Fire Season In Yosemite
Yosemite, CA — Yosemite National Park is officially opening its 2013 summer Fire Season.
Starting today, all of the seasonal fire personnel and equipment are available in the event of a large wildfire. Park Ranger Kari Cobb says, “This year, vegetation is drying out faster than average due to the low snowpack the park received over the last two winter seasons, making for fire danger above average for this time of year.”
Yosemite has at its disposal a Fire Manager, four Type 3 wild land fire engines, one helicopter and one hand crew. With the official declaration of Fire Season, pile burning is no longer allowed inside the park.
On a related note, yesterday afternoon there was a wildfire just south of the park boundaries that destroyed a home and several other structures in Madera County. The fire in Yosemite Lakes Park broke out around 3 p.m. and quickly grew to 91 acres. At one point 40 homes were threatened.
