Two Yosemite Lightning Strike Fires Grow

Park map

Yosemite, CA – While ten fires have been contained, two have grown in size.

Thunderstorms with lightning blew through the park from June 28 to July 2 ignited 19 fires. Fire managers detail, “Ten fires have been contained due to location and spread potential.” There are six remaining fires currently being monitored all in the high elevation areas ranging from 7,000 to 9,700 feet. Two of the fires have seen significant growth. The Lukens Fire, west of Lukens Lake and north of Tioga Road has jumped from 1.4 acres to 450, and the County Line Fire, near Yosemite Creek Campground Road, from 6 acres to 170 in about a week, as reported here. Park fire officials relay that both blazes are being suppressed using roads and trails to contain and confine, with additional burning to secure these fires into the Wolf and Blue Jay fire footprints from 2020.

Traffic may be impacted on Highway 120/Tioga Road with one-way traffic from White Wolf Junction to Mc Swain Summit as fire crews and equipment will be active in that area. Park Fire officials provided these details on twelve of the blazes:

King

Location: South of Nevada Falls, north of Mount Starr King. 7220 elevation.

Discovery Date: June 29, 2021                   Size: 10 acres

Containment: 100%                                   Strategy: Suppression

Cause: Lightning

 

Quartzite

Location: West of Quartzsite Peak. 8781 elevation.

Discovery Date: June 29, 2021                    Size: .5 acre

Containment: 0%                                         Strategy: Monitor

Cause: Lightning

 

Stubblefield

Location: Northern end of Yosemite NP, 2000 feet from Pacific Crest Trail (mile marker 982), no threat to trail. 8000 elevation.

Discovery Date: June 28, 2021                Size: 2 acres

Containment: 0%                                      Strategy: Monitor

Cause: Lightning

 

Porcupine

Location: Northeast of Porcupine Campground, and Tioga Road. 8210 elevation.

Discovery Date: June 28, 2021             Size: 3.7 acres

Containment: 0%                                    Strategy: Monitor

Cause: Lightning

 

 

Hidden

Location: Northwest of Olmsted Point, Tioga Road. 9017 elevation.

Discovery Date: June 28, 2021              Size: .1 acre

Containment: 0%                                   Strategy: Monitor

Cause: Lightning

 

County Line

Location: Near Yosemite Creek Campground Road. 8361 elevation.

Discovery Date: June 28, 2021  Size: 170 acres

Containment: 60%                                Strategy: Confine and Contain

Cause: Lightning

 

Lukens

Location: West of Lukens Lake, North of Tioga Road. 8243 elevation.

Discovery Date: June 28, 2021           Size: 450 acres

Containment: 0%                               Strategy: Confine and Contain

Cause: Lightning

 

Wegner

Location: East of Yosemite Creek Picnic Area and east of Tioga Road. 8256 elevation.

Discovery Date: June 28, 2021            Size: .25 acre

Containment: 0%                                 Strategy: Monitor

Cause: Lightning

 

Half Moon

Location: West of Ten Lakes near Half Moon Meadow. 8256 elevation.

Discovery Date: June 28, 2021            Size: .1 acre

Containment: 0%                                  Strategy: Monitor

Cause: Lightning

 

Fork

Location: One mile southeast of Mount Starr King. 8500 elevation.

Discovery Date: June 28, 2021             Size: 12 acres

Containment: 100%                              Strategy: Confine and Contain

Cause: Lightning

 

Lost

Location: Northeast Starr King Meadow. 8700 elevation.

Discovery Date: July 6, 2021                  Size: .25 acre

Containment: 100%                                Strategy: Suppression

Cause: Lightning

 

Snow

Location: May Lake Trailhead, near Tioga Road. 8600 elevation.

Discovery Date: July 14, 2021                Size: .1 acre

Containment: 100%                                Strategy: Suppression

Cause: Lightning