Prescribed Burn Planned In Mariposa Grove In Yosemite

Yosemite, CA — Within the next couple of weeks, Yosemite fire officials are planning to burn just under 200 acres in the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias.

The grove is currently closed due to a major restoration project and fire managers want to take advantage of the period and do the burning while no one is there recreating. The burning will occur sometime between November 4-14, weather permitting. Yosemite reports that only a few prescribed burns have occurred in the grove over the past 30 years, and continued burning is required to maintain healthy forest conditions. Fire removes the accumulated layers of dead woody debris, exposes nutrient rich mineral soil, and dries cones allowing seeds to shed. Smoke will be visible in the area while the burning is taking place.