YOSEMITE – The Meadow Fire, burning in the backcountry of Yosemite National Park, has grown overnight to 2,582 acres.
The fire may be a spot fire from a lightning-caused blaze which started on July 20. The new activity in the area was noted at approximately 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 7, and is burning within the Little Yosemite Valley (LYV) area on both sides of the Merced River.
All trails in the area are closed. Approximately 100 hikers and backpackers were evacuated from the fire area in LYV. The High Sierra Camps were closed for the season yesterday.
Eighty-five hikers and climbers were also evacuated from the summit of Half Dome by helicopters from the California Highway Patrol, Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Sequoia Kings Canyon National Park and CAL Fire.
The South Central Sierra Interagency Management Team will begin management of the fire at 6 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 8.
Resources:
- 4 Type 1(heavy helicopters),
- 3 Type 2 (medium helicopters)
- 1 Air Attack
- 3 Air Tankers
- Over 100 firefighters are assigned, including Yosemite fire crews and 6 Hot Shot crews
Closed Trails:
- Echo Creek Drainage to LYV
- Sunrise Creek Drainage to LYV (John Muir Trail)
- Merced River Corridor to Merced Lake Ranger Station
- Nevada falls east through LYV along the Merced River corridor.
- Sunrise trail to Clouds Rest from Tenaya Lake
