More Lightning Fires Reported In Yosemite
Yosemite, CA — Thunderstorms have been traveling across portions of the Sierra Nevada the past few days and are expected to continue into the weekend.
Two new lightning fires were started in Yosemite National Park on Tuesday.
The Dark Hole Fire is near the Yosemite Creek Campground access road, and the Pit Fire is located by the Snow Creek Trail, approximately one mile southwest of Tioga Rd. Both are estimated to be 1/10th of an acre.
“When we get fires associated with wet thunderstorms, there is often a lot of what we call ‘sleepers,’” says Gary Wuchner, Fire Information Officer. “They are fires that hit a tree, but are so obscure that it has to warm up to see the visible smoke. They can cook along for a few days before we realize there is another fire.”
Also burning at a slow rate of spread is the Mono Fire which started on May 18 and is located within the Illilouette Basin and Yosemite’s wilderness. The 96 acre Cottonwood Fire that started on the same day is now contained.
National Weather Service spotters have reported pea size hail and cloud to ground lightning across portions of the Sierra Nevada. Anyone who comes upon a thunderstorm is urged to seek shelter.
