Yosemite Declares Fire Season Over

Forest Service photo

Yosemite, CA – Yosemite National Park has announced the end of its fire season.

The decision was made on Friday, November 15, as fire danger has been consistently “low” over the past several days and there is more precipitation forecast.

“Seasonal firefighters have started to depart and Helicopter-551 has been released for the season,” reported park fire officials.

With the end of fire season, residential pile burning is now allowed on permissible burn days. Property owners and residents must follow all burning guidelines. For a step-by-step guide to safe pile burning, park fire officials provided these three steps for burning safely:

1. Ensure there are no current burn restrictions in your area. Utilize the contact list and obtain your permit, as necessary.

• • Wawona, Foresta, and Aspen Valley residents are allowed to burn piles in the community without a permit.
  • Yosemite West residents need a free burn permit through CAL FIRE and are encouraged to follow this guidance.
  • No pile burning is allowed in Yosemite Valley (Reference Yosemite Superintendent Compendium).
  • If you live in an area adjacent to the park boundary that is under State Response Area, you may need to obtain a burn permit from CAL FIRE.

2. Call your county burn line to ensure it is a permissible burn day.

3. Prior to burning, notify Yosemite dispatch. Be prepared to give your name and address.

Pile Requirements:

• Maximum pile size is 4 feet in diameter.
• Clear all flammable material within 10 feet of the outer edge of burn pile.
• An adult must remain in attendance with a shovel until fire is dead out.
• Keep 5 gallons of water or charged hose at the burn site.
• No burning allowed when wind speeds or gusts in excess of 5 mph are present or forecast.
• Vegetation debris only can be burned (no construction material).
• Piles should be free from dirt and non‐combustible materials and burn clean to avoid smoke impacts.