YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK–Fire officials are reporting that the Pika Fire, burning west of North Dome at an elevation of 7,100 feet, has burned 40 acres. The lightning fire was discovered on June 29th, 2023.
Yosemite Fire crews are using a confined and contain firefighting strategy utilizing natural barriers and trails. The fire has slow growth, with some isolated active pockets northwest of North Dome.
A confined and contained strategy under favorable conditions allows the fire to move naturally across the landscape, providing ecological benefits to plants and wildlife while also meeting protection objectives to minimize risk to people and infrastructure.
Trail closures went into effect Tuesday evening, impacting short sections of the North Dome Trail and Lehamite Creek Trail. A trail closure map can be seen HERE.
Smoke impacts from the Pika Fire are expected to impact Yosemite Valley in the evening and overnight, with conditions improving as smoke lifts during the afternoons. Impacts may also be seen in the surrounding communities of Groveland, El Portal, and Lee Vining. To monitor smoke in your area and take precautions for your health, please visit Current Air Quality and Smoke Monitoring – Yosemite National Park (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)
More information is available here: Pika Fire – Inciweb
The Pika Fire (Photo credit – NPS / A. Burgess)
