Yosemite Park fire: Evacuation orders issued as fire threatens ...

(CNN) A growing wildfire that threatens a famed giant sequoia tree grove in California's Yosemite National Park has forced officials to issue evacuation orders for a nearby community, officials said Friday.

The Washburn Fire has swelled to nearly 500 acres as it burns near the lower portion of Mariposa Grove, Yosemite park officials said. Firefighters are working from the ground and air to suppress the blaze, and park officials said the grove will remain closed until further notice.

Amid the fire's expansion, park officials urged people in Yosemite's Wawona campground and community to evacuate.

Yosemite is one of the most visited national parks in the US, drawing more than 3.3 million people in 2021. It encompasses nearly 1,200 square miles in the Sierra Nevada mountain range in eastern California.

Meanwhile, California crews are also battling the Electra Fire, which has scorched more than 4,400 acres across Amador and Calaveras counties, also in the Sierra Nevadas, according to Cal Fire.

The blaze prompted the state's first night-water-drop operation via helicopter Wednesday, when about 12,000 gallons of water were dumped on the flames, Cal Fire Battalion Chief Isaac Sanchez told CNN.

"The helicopter was brought in to assist in the cooling and containment of a firing operation which had taken place earlier in the afternoon," Sanchez said. "While assigned to this operation, the helicopter identified additional areas where the fire had crept over the containment lines and was able to aid in their full extinguishment and containment."

The western US has been ravaged by wildfires in recent years, exacerbated by drought conditions tied to climate change. In California alone, more than 2.5 million acres were destroyed in nearly 9,000 fires last year, according to Cal Fire.

Last month, officials in Southern California said they were bracing for another challenging summer and fall amid a shortage of firefighting crews and increased workloads.

The threat is not limited to California. Robert Garcia, the US Forest Service's fire chief for the Angeles National Forest, said the summer months are off to a "concerning start." Firefighting resources have been mobilizing since March to Arizona and New Mexico, where the Black Fire just became the state's second-largest blaze in history.

"Southern California typically has a fire season of historically late June and then into the fall," Chief Garcia told CNN last month. "But we're seeing activity now year round."

Yosemite Washburn fire: Mariposa Grove of sequoias threatened

A wildfire burning through thick forests shuttered Yosemite National Park's largest grove of iconic giant sequoia trees over the weekend and once again endangered some of the world's largest trees.

The threat of flames from the Washburn Fire led to the closing of the grove Friday and to the evacuation of hundreds of people nearby in the community of Wawona, according to the National Park Service. No injuries were reported.

The National Weather Service in Hanford, California, forecast heavy smoke from the Washburn fire impacting Yosemite on Saturday. Park cameras showed thick smoke hanging in the air around some of the park's most iconic views.

Meanwhile, crews were sent to wrap the trees' hulking trunks with fire-resistant foil to help protect them from the blaze, said Nancy Phillipe, a Yosemite fire information spokesperson. There were no reports of severe damaged to any of the named giant sequoia trees, including the 3,000-year-old Grizzly Giant.

After it was first reported Thursday, the fire had burned through about 703 acres or over one square mile by Saturday morning. While the fire grew overnight Friday, it did not spread to any new areas, and much of the park remained open aside from the grove.

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Nestled in the southern part of Yosemite is the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, the largest sequoia grove in the park, according to the National Park Service. The grove is home to over 500 mature giant sequoias.

Friday photos from inside the grove showed smoke, flames and a firefighter in the shadow of a massive tree working to prevent the flames from spreading.

Giant sequoias were once considered largely impervious to fires but have become increasingly vulnerable in the face of intense fires fueled by drought and climate change.

The Washburn fire is only the latest to threaten the beloved trees. Last year, the KNP Complex, a pair of lightning-sparked wildfires in California's Sierra Nevada, shuttered Sequoia National Park and threatened its gigantic trees. In the past two years, lightning-sparked wildfires have killed up to a fifth of the estimated 75,000 large sequoias.

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A windstorm last year toppled 15 giant sequoias in the Mariposa Grove.

The cause of the Washburn fire is still under investigation and hundreds of firefighters, two helicopters and an air tanker fought to control the flames Friday, Phillipe said.

Contributing: The Associated Press

Contact News Now Reporter Christine Fernando at cfernando@usatoday.com or follow her on Twitter at @christinetfern.

Yosemite Park fire: Fire crews rush to protect renowned sequoias as ...

(CNN) Fire crews are working to steer a growing wildfire away from Yosemite National Park's legendary giant sequoias, taking protective measures like installing a sprinkler system to dampen the ground around one of the park's most famous trees.

While officials say the trees have avoided significant damage so far, the 2,340-acre Washburn Fire doubled in size over the weekend, entering Yosemite's Mariposa Grove, where more than 500 giant sequoias -- some thought to be more than 2,000 years old -- can tower to more than 20 stories.

"The fire has entered the grove," Robbie Johnson, a spokesperson for the fire response, told CNN on Sunday evening. "But the good news is because of prescribed burns and clearing out material on the ground, it's clear in the Mariposa Grove," where protection efforts have yielded a "doughnut hole" shield.

Fire management teams have wrapped the historic Galen Clark cabin in protective foil, Yosemite spokesperson Scott Gediman said. And they've installed a sprinkler system to dampen the ground around the park's 209-foot-tall Grizzly Giant sequoia, with water from a small pool feeding sprinklers set up near the tree's base, footage from Yosemite Fire and Aviation Management shows.

Fire officials are confident the trees, which are "very fire resistant," are well-protected, Nancy Phillipe, a park ranger with Yosemite Fire, told CNN Monday.

"The combination of the removal of the hazard fuels and the prescribed burning that we've done, with the temporary sprinkler system that is in place, we are confident that's giving those giant sequoias the best protection available," Phillipe said.

As firefighting continues, the park's busy south entrance is closed Monday to visitors, and park officials have evacuated and closed the southern Wawona area and Mariposa Grove. While the rest of the park remains open, lines at other entrances are now longer, and visitors must be mindful of potentially unhealthy air quality in some places, including Yosemite Valley, due to the smoke, Gediman said.

Indeed, smoke from the Washburn Fire could impact people as far away as the San Francisco area, officials said, encouraging residents there to stay indoors and close windows. The warning comes as California's fire season, which typically extends from late June through the fall, is becoming a year-round event

As the climate crisis drives more wildfires in the western US, climate scientists have expressed concern national parks could become inaccessible to humans and uninhabitable for wildlife -- if global fossil fuel emissions are not significantly reduced. The parks also have been plagued by extreme flooding and drought.

An evacuation order has been issued

The Washburn Fire was first reported July 7 and has drawn a crew of 545 fire personnel to the steep and densely wooded area, according to fire management site InciWeb . The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Part of the blaze has been successfully contained at its origin point near Mariposa Grove, but the fire has continued to stretch northeast, officials say.

On Sunday, the fire was burning about five miles south of the community of Wawona, which could be threatened by "spotting," which occurs when embers travel through the air and ignite other trees, Gediman explained. An evacuation order was issued Friday for the community and the park's Wawona campground.

"It's not only the trees, it's our community," Phillipe told CNN. "Our community of Wawona has been evacuated, and it's so difficult to be displaced and separated from your belongings and your home and your comfort."

A firefighter works to contain the Washburn Fire.

Hot and dry conditions will continue through the rest of the week, and the fire is expected to continue spreading, though its intensity may be reduced from scars left by previous fires, according to InciWeb.

While fire is a natural part of Yosemite's ecosystem, severe burns like the Washburn Fire threaten the forest, Gediman said.

"Fire is important, in fact it's critical for giant sequoias for them to have the seeds come out of the cones, to regenerate the soil, provide habitat for animals. ... But it's these high intensity fires that are causing the damage," he said, citing the devastating Creek Fire which consumed nearly 400,000 acres of California's Sierra National Forest area for several months in 2020.

Mariposa Grove was established in 1857, when Galen Clark -- considered Yosemite's first guardian -- convinced lawmakers to include the grove as a protected area, according to the National Park Service . The grove in the Yosemite Valley was first set aside for public use by President Abraham Lincoln in 1864, eventually becoming a national park in 1890, park service records show.

California grapples with fire challenges

A San Francisco area air quality agency encouraged residents Sunday to take precautions such as staying indoors and closing windows to stay away from smoke drifting into the region.

"Smoke from the Washburn Fire is forecast to be transported into the Bay Area and is expected to impact the North and East Bay regions," the Bay Area Air Quality Management District said. However, the district stressed "pollutant levels are not expected to exceed the federal health standard."

Last week, officials in southern California announced that region is bracing for a particularly challenging summer and fall of wildfires, as a prolonged drought has left vegetation brittle and dry. And even as fires continue to extend beyond the traditional season, worker shortages plague some firefighting crews.

Elizabeth Wolfe
Amanda Watts
Dakin Andone

Yosemite fire supercharged by climate change threatens giant ...

A wildfire in Yosemite National Park is threatening some of the oldest and most massive trees on the planet, woodlands that have stood since before the founding of Rome. The iconic Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, visited by a million people every year, is now closed as firefighters battle the Washburn Fire that threatens to engulf it.

What is Mariposa Grove?

This stand of trees on 248 acres is home to more than 500 mature giant sequoia trees. Some of them are estimated to be as much as 3,000 to 3,500 years old. The awe-inspiring Grizzly Giant stands 209 feet tall (more than 15 stories) and is estimated to weigh roughly 2 million pounds.

The grove has been protected since President Abraham Lincoln first signed legislation setting it aside for public use in 1864.

What's threatening it?

The Washburn Fire began July 7 and has since burned 3,221 acres in Yosemite National Park, coming perilously close to the grove. There were 649 people fighting the fire, and it was 22% contained, according to the National Park Service. It was zero percent contained on Sunday.

At a community meeting Monday evening, Yosemite Superintendent Cicely Muldoon said the fire was caused by humans.

"As you all know, there was no lightning on that day. So it’s a human start fire and it’s under investigation," Muldoon said. "That’s all I can really say about that right now. We’re looking at that real, real hard."

The fire has been so powerful the tremendous updraft from its heat is sucking branches and other debris hundreds of feet into the air. As they fall, they rain down on firefighters and airplanes attacking the blaze.

In one incident on Saturday, a more than 2-foot long tree branch was pulled several hundred feet into the air by the fire, narrowly missing two firefighting aircraft.

What's being done to protect the grove?

The National Parks Service has dug fire lines to protect the giant sequoias and is using ground-based sprinkler systems to increase humidity in the area. This requires the fire to expend more energy to burn, so the fire's intensity drops, said Craig Clements, who directs the Wildfire Interdisciplinary Research Center at San José State University.

Why do giant sequoias matter?

Giant sequoias only grow in a few small areas along the West coast. They are a relic species dating back to before the Jurassic period.

"Continents have shifted, the climate has changed multiple times and still these little pockets have survived," said Will Russell, a forest ecologist at San José State University. "Unfortunately, it looks like the current pressure of climate change is affecting them in such a way that we might lose them."

The giant sequoia is now endangered, with only 80,000 estimated to survive given high levels of logging over the past 150 years. Increasingly severe fires threaten those that remain.

"In the fire seasons of 2020 and 2021 alone, a 14-month period, we estimate we lost 19% of all giant sequoia. It's just not sustainable," said Joanna Nelson, director of science and conservation at the Save the Redwoods League.

Mariposa Grove is one of three giant sequoia groves in Yosemite. Their massive trunks can measure almost 30 feet around, as big as a house. The branches on some giant sequoias are as thick as the trunks of regular trees.

"These trees dwarf us. They've been here for up to 3,400 years and give us a sense of perspective. They are temples of nature," said Ed Smith, a senior forest ecologist with the Nature Conservancy. "There's a spiritual value to these groves."

How did sequoias survive so long?

Giant sequoias evolved to live with frequent fire, with an enveloping, cork-like bark that can be as much as 18 inches thick and insulates them from flames. Their roots go deep, protecting them from the heat pulse of wildfires.

Prior to the focus on fire suppression that began around 1900, these forests typically burned every 10 to 30 years. These small-scale fires cleared brush and needles but were relatively low intensity, allowing the sequoia to remain unharmed.

But now the buildup of fuels allows fires to burn hotter and higher. In addition, climate change has led to deeper droughts, drying out the land so it's more fire-prone.

"We’re dealing with species that have evolved over millennia, and we’re changing the rules of the game over a very short period of time and expecting them to cope with the changes we’ve fostered," Smith said. "It’s pretty unrealistic."

Are they expected to survive?

Temperatures are anticipated to warm into the 90s at Yosemite over Monday and Tuesday, which the National Parks Service says could mean increased fire activity. However, winds are predicted to be low.

"That should allow them to have pretty good containment soon," said Clements.

Contributing: Thao Nguyen, USA TODAY

Washburn Fire threatens iconic Yosemite sequoia grove; firefighters ...

Yosemite National Park's largest and most iconic sequoia grove remained threatened by a wildfire Sunday afternoon as rough terrain and hot weather proved difficult for battling the blaze.

The Washburn Fire was first reported Thursday in Yosemite's Mariposa Grove, which houses over 500 mature sequoias, including the 3,000-year-old Grizzly Giant. It quickly spread amid hot and dry weather conditions: the fire grew to 2,000 acres Sunday evening, up from 466 acres recorded on Friday, according to the National Wildfire Coordinating Group.

The Washburn Fire also threatened the small nearby community of Wawona, forcing people to evacuate their homes and campsites Friday night.

As of Sunday, afternoon the fire remains 0% contained, the National Park Service said. The National Weather Service in Hanford, California, forecast moderate to heavy smoke impacting Yosemite on Sunday.

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The terrain and climate have presented a challenge for firefighters: on top of hotter and drier weather conditions Sunday, they have to navigate through dead, fallen trees and other dead foliage caused by large numbers of tree deaths from 2013 to 2015 — a "significant safety hazard," the National Wildfire Coordinating Group said.

The hot and dry conditions are expected to extend throughout the week, the National Parks Service said, although winds will be light. The parks service anticipated that fire activity will continue to actively spread during the next three days and beyond.

Firefighters are throwing “every tactic imaginable" at it, said Nancy Phillipe, a Yosemite fire information spokesperson. That included air drops of fire retardant as well as the planned use of bulldozers to create fire lines, a tactic that's rarely used in a wilderness setting like Yosemite, Phillipe said.

The bulldozers would primarily be used to put in fire lines to protect Wawona, she said.

Giant sequoias were once thought to be largely resistant to fires, but have become increasingly vulnerable in the face of intense fires fueled by drought and climate change.

A windstorm last year toppled 15 giant sequoias in the Mariposa Grove.

"Fortunately," the National Park Service said, the Mariposa Grove has a long history of prescribed burning, and "studies have shown that these efforts reduce the impacts of high-severity unwanted fire."

The cause of the fire has not yet been identified, the National Wildfire Coordinating Group said.

Contributing: Christine Fernando, USA TODAY; The Associated Press

Washburn Fire: See Yosemite sequoia trees under threat

Iconic sequoia trees that tower over millions of captivated visitors at Yosemite National Park each year are under threat from a fast-moving fire.

The fire quickly spread amid hot and dry weather conditions and grew to 2,000 acres on Sunday, up from 466 acres recorded on Friday, according to the National Wildfire Coordinating Group. Nearby communities were forced to evacuate their homes and campsites Friday night.

Over 500 mature giant sequoias are located in the southern portion of Yosemite at the the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, which is the largest sequoia grove in Yosemite and includes the 3,000-year-old Grizzly Giant.

The fire was first reported in the Mariposa Grove on Thursday.

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California firefighters gain against Yosemite wildfire

The Associated Press

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, Calif. — California firefighters gained ground Monday in the battle against a wildfire that poses a threat to a grove of giant sequoias and a small community in Yosemite National Park.

The Washburn Fire on the western flank of the Sierra Nevada had scorched about 4.2 square miles but was 22% contained as of Monday night, according to an incident update.

The fire was a threat to more than 500 mature sequoias in the park’s Mariposa Grove and the nearby community of Wawona, which has been evacuated.

The area in the southern portion of Yosemite was closed to visitors but the rest of the national park remained open.

Mariposa Grove and Yosemite Valley have been protected since President Abraham Lincoln signed legislation in 1864.

A sprinkler system was set up within the grove to maintain moisture, and there were no reports of severe damage to any named trees, including the 3,000-year-old Grizzly Giant.

“Fortunately, the Mariposa Grove has a long history of prescribed burning and studies have shown that these efforts reduce the impacts of high-severity unwanted fire,” a National Park Service statement said.

WHAT TO KNOW:Yosemite fire threatens sequoia grove, some of Earth’s oldest, biggest trees

A heat advisory was issued for the Central Valley sprawling below the Sierra while up in the fire area, a high temperature of 96 degrees Fahrenheit was recorded for the village of Wawona, where hundreds tourists and residents were forced to evacuate last Friday.

“Fortunately there has not been any erratic winds that have affected fire behavior,” fire information officer Marc Peebles said earlier in the day. “We do have the high pressure that’s over the top of the fire which is causing the increase in temperatures. However, we do get a decent amount of humidity at night which moderates fire behavior which allows our night shift firefighters to do good work.”

The giant sequoias, native in only about 70 groves spread along the western slope of the Sierra Nevada, were once considered impervious to flames but have become increasingly vulnerable as wildfires, fueled by a buildup of undergrowth from a century of fire suppression and the impact of drought exacerbated by climate change, have become more intense and destructive.

Lightning-sparked wildfires over the past two years have killed up to a fifth of the estimated 75,000 large sequoias, which are the biggest trees by volume and a major draw for tourists.

PHOTOS:An iconic Yosemite sequoia grove is under threat by fire. Here's what it looks like.

There was no obvious natural spark for the fire that broke out Thursday next to the park’s Washburn Trail. Smoke was reported by visitors walking in the grove.

A fierce windstorm ripped through the grove more than a year ago and toppled 15 giant sequoias, along with countless other trees.

The downed trees, along with massive numbers of pines killed by bark beetles, provided ample fuel for the flames.

In Utah, smoke and ash emanating from a growing wildfire in rural Tooele County blew into Salt Lake City on Saturday. By Monday night, the Jacob City Fire had grown to 6.4 square miles, with 19% containment, officials said.

Elsewhere in Utah, firefighters contending with heavy winds battled the 15.9 square-mile Halfway Hill Fire in Filmore. Law enforcement on Saturday arrested four men who investigators said abandoned a campfire that ignited the blaze.

So far in 2022, over 35,000 wildfires have burned nearly 4.7 million acres in the U.S., according to the National Interagency Fire Center, well above average for both wildfires and acres burned.

Fire danger to iconic Yosemite sequoia grove reduced but risk remains

Yosemite National Park's centuries-old sequoia grove was mostly out of danger Thursday, though firefighters warned a risk remains for any fire until it's 100% controlled.

"Mariposa Grove is in a very good place. We're going to put some specialty crews in there to work deeper into the grove, clean it up, but we're very close to tying up all the dots together," said Matt Ahern, deputy operations chief with the California Interagency Incident Management Team.

With fire lines around the grove holding, containment looked good, but crews will continue to reinforce the area and deal with hazard trees, he said in a briefing early Thursday.

The fire drew the world's attention as the iconic Mariposa Grove of giant sequoias, visited by more than 1 million people a year, was threatened this week as the Washburn Fire drew nearer.

The grove covers 248 acres and contains more than 500 mature giant sequoia trees. Some of them are estimated to be as much as 3,000 to 3,500 years old. The frequently photographed Grizzly Giant sequoia stands 209 feet tall and is estimated to weigh 2 million pounds.

As of Thursday, the fire covered 4,375 acres and was 23% contained, according to information posted by national park staff.

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Firefighters have focused on protecting the grove and the historic Wawona Hotel and nearby campground.

"Wawona structure defense remains in place. We're feeling much more comfortable with that at this point," Ahern said. But "there is still a threat until we can get to the heat sources."

Though crews have been fortunate that there have been no heavy winds this week to whip up the fire, concern remains high, said Stanley Bercovitz, a public information officer with the California Interagency Incident Management Team.

"The threat is greatly reduced," he said.

The National Park Service has used controlled burns to limit the fuel supply and reduce the risk of wildfires, but the area as a whole remains at elevated risk.

"The grove has an unbelievable amount of fuels surrounding it," Bercovitz said.

While Yosemite National Park is open to the public, the areas around the Mariposa Grove and Wawona Hotel will remain closed until the danger has passed, Bercovitz said.

That includes the risk of burned branches falling long after the fire itself has been extinguished, Bercovitz said. "We call those widowmakers."

Gun control law, Yosemite fire, heat dome: 5 things to know Monday

Editors

USA TODAY

Biden to tout passage of gun violence prevention law

President Joe Biden will hold an event at the White House on Monday to celebrate the passage of a landmark gun violence prevention bill. Biden announced the event last month when he signed the bill into law, saying he would "mark this historic achievement" alongside members of Congress who voted for the bill and families victimized by gun tragedies. Lawmakers passed the gun safety legislation after the mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas, where a gunman opened fire at an elementary school, killing 19 children and two teachers. The White House event comes a week after a Fourth of July parade shooting in Highland Park, Illinois, that left seven dead and dozens wounded.

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Fire threatens iconic Yosemite sequoia grove

Yosemite National Park's largest and most iconic sequoia grove remains threatened by a wildfire as rough terrain and hot weather have proved difficult for battling the blaze. The Washburn Fire was first reported Thursday in Yosemite's Mariposa Grove, which houses over 500 mature sequoias, including the 3,000-year-old Grizzly Giant. It quickly spread amid hot and dry weather conditions: the fire grew to 2,000 acres on Sunday, up from 466 acres recorded on Friday, according to the National Wildfire Coordinating Group. The Washburn Fire also threatened the small nearby community of Wawona, forcing people to evacuate their homes and campsites Friday night.

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At least 15 dead after Russian missile strike in Ukraine

At least 15 people were killed and more than 20 were believed buried in the rubble Sundayafter Russian rockets pummeled apartment buildings in eastern Ukraine. Rescuers helped by heavy equipment looked for survivors under the debris in Chasiv Yar, where three buildings in a residential area were destroyed late Saturday. Chasiv Yar is 12 miles southeast of Kramatorsk, a major Russian target. After taking control of the Luhansk province, the Russians have set their eyes on seizing the Donetsk, which would give them full command of the Donbas.

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At least 10 heat records were broken in cities across the Southwest and central U.S. over the weekend, and more could fall Monday and later this week amid continued forecasts of searing heat. Cities and towns in Colorado, Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas all saw record highs on Friday and Saturday. Some broke temperature records set nearly a decade ago and others exceeded previous highs by up to six degrees. The high temperatures are largely the result of a "heat dome" – a persistent region of high pressure trapping heat over the area. While the daily records broken weren't necessarily widespread the conditions created by the heat dome have still been conducive to approaching and meeting record numbers in many areas, Accuweather Meteorologist Joseph Bauer told USA TODAY.

Yosemite Park fire: Hot, dry conditions are making it harder for ...

(CNN) Hot, dry weather conditions are making it harder for firefighting crews battling a wildfire in Yosemite National Park in California that is threatening a grove of giant sequoia trees, most of which are more than 2,000 years old.

The Washburn Fire has ballooned to at least 4,261 acres since it was reported last week, with containment at about 23%, according to an update Wednesday from Inciweb, an national wildfire information clearinghouse.

More than 1,000 fire crew personnel are fighting the blaze, which has been spreading close to the giant sequoias as well as a small community that was forced to evacuate last week.

"The more than 500 mature sequoias of the Mariposa Grove are adjacent to these fuels and have so far avoided serious damage from the Washburn Fire," fire officials wrote in the update. "Most of these trees are over 2000-years-old and have experienced fire many times throughout their lives."

On Thursday, temperatures are expected to remain warm and dry with light to moderate winds, creating conditions that could potentially fuel the flames even more. Temperatures will be in the 90s, with relative humidity in the 20-30% range, CNN meteorologist Robert Shackelford said.

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