Yosemite Opens Fire Season
Yosemite, CA – Yosemite National Park is hoping to have a smoother fire season than in 2009.
Park officials say that steps have been taken to avoid having another escaped debris burn like the Big Meadow Fire that started last August. A total of 7,500 acres were burned.
Park Ranger Kari Cobb says that last September, fire officials from the Pacific West Regional Office for the National Park Service performed a comprehensive fire review and looked at ways to prevent similar problems from happening in the future.
Changes this summer include improving fire plans to address specific site conditions, the consulting with regional fire management staff prior to implementing all burns, increased recording of seasonal changes in fuel moisture, developing a fire year strategic fire plan and assuring adequate formal training for all fire employees and management staff.
Yosemite firefighters have spent the past week conducting annual readiness reviews and all seasonal equipment is now in place for the remaining summer months.
Written by bjhansen@mlode.com.
