



Location: N 37° 38' 40" x W 119° 37' 6" at approximately 7300 feet elevation

Discovery Date: July 31st, 2017



Size: 2,230 acres



Cause: Lightning





August 26, 2017 -



Update: 10:25 A.M. 2,230 Acres

Current as of 8/26/2017, 10:25:26 AM Incident Type Wildfire Cause Lightning/natural Date of Origin Tuesday August 01st, 2017 approx. 08:45 AM Location 1 Mile South of Bridalveil Campground in Yosemite's Wilderness Incident Commander Tom Garcia, ICT3 Incident Description Management

Current Situation

Total Personnel 35 Size 2,230 Acres Fuels Involved Red Fir Timber (Litter and Understory), Dormant Brush, Hardwood Slash



Pockets of green leaf manzanita and chinquapin brush as well as heavy dead and down material



Significant Events Trails are closed from Bridalveil Creek campground to the second junction with the Ostrander trail. Additionally, from Westfall Meadow to the Turner junction, along Alder Creek remains closed. Bridalveil Trail to Turner Meadow Junction is closed. Signs are placed at the affected trails. There are no threats at this time to infrastructure at Bridalveil Campground and the remainder of hiking trails in the area remain open at this time. The smoke will be visible from the high country and may be seen from multiple viewpoints in the immediate area off Glacier Point Road. Bridalveil Camp Ground is open to the public.





Outlook

Planned Actions Continue to hold and improve existing trails and lines.



Projected Incident Activity 12 hours: The southwest side of the fire continues to work it's way south along Alder Creek Drainage.



24 hours: Crews are checking fire spread at Alder Creek



48 hours: Same



72 hours: Continue to improve contingency lines along Alder Creek Trail





Current Weather

Weather Concerns Upper level area of high pressure will keep the burn area dry and hot. Low RH values and diurnally driven winds will be expected for the next several days.





The Empire Fire is being managed for both resource and protection objectives. It is approximately 1 mile south of the Bridalveil Campground east of Alder Creek drainage and west of Bridalveil Creek drainage, burning in Red fir. Fire behavior has been actively flanking and backing with some single and group tree torching. The fire is burning in heavy pockets of dead and down timber, reducing fuels buildup which increases forest resiliency. Projected fire growth is expected in the northeast and southeast flanks.



The affected area is in a fire-adapted wilderness. Allowing fires to burn naturally can result in healthier, more diverse ecosystems. Reducing fuels buildup minimizes the potential for future severe fires. Although the current fire may have transient, moderate smoke impacts, more severe fires can cause unhealthy levels of smoke for extended periods, over a much wider area.



Trails are closed from Bridalveil Creek Campground at the second junction with the Ostrander trail and from Westfall Meadow to the Turner junction, along Alder Creek. Bridalveil Trail to Turner Meadow Juction is closed. Bridalveil Creek Campground is open today; please check with Yosemite National Park Camp Ground Reservations for further information.



The fire will be visible from the high country and may be seen from multiple viewpoints in the immediate area off Glacier Point Road including Sentinel and Washburn Points. Travelers should be cautious of smoke along road.



Fire Managers are working with the local Air Quality Districts and will be monitoring smoke impacts to the park and local communities. Community members who are sensitive to smoke may want to close their windows and doors and monitor the air quality links below.



