Yosemite Updates Show Two Lightning Fires Growing Slowly

Yosemite National Park photo

Yosemite, CA – Two fires ignited by lightning at the beginning of the month when thunderstorms swept through Yosemite National park have seen minimal growth this week.

The Red Fire burning in the Red Creek area of the park behind Half Dome was discovered by a helicopter on August 8th. It was estimated at 30 acres and was putting out a plume of smoke, as detailed here. Two days later, the blaze had grown to 398 acres, as reported here. Since then, it has slowly climbed to its current 572 acres. The Rogers Fire burning in the high country of the Yosemite wilderness is also having minimal growth. It is burning at a low to moderate rate and was estimated at 25 acres on Tuesday.

Yosemite fire officials released the latest numbers from those blazes below:

RED FIRE:

Location: between Red Creek and Illilouette Creek

Elevation: 7,800

Discover date: August 4, 2022

Size: 572 acres

Cause: Lightning

Fire history: burning in the 2001 Hoover fire footprint

Fire crews are assessing natural barriers (like granite) to confine and contain the fire

No threat to infrastructure

No trail closures

RODGERS FIRE:

Location: northwest of Rodgers Canyon and southwest of Pleasant Valley

Elevation: 8,100

Discover date: August 8, 2022

Size: 76 acres, 0% contained

Cause: Lightning

Fire crews are assessing natural barriers (like granite) to confine and contain the fire

No threat to infrastructure.

A section of trail between Pate Valley and the Pacific Crest Trail is closed due to fire activity. Click here for a closure map.