YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK — The Washburn Fire is currently burning within the Yosemite National Park boundary near the Mariposa Grove area. The Mariposa Grove is closed indefinitely at this time however the rest of the park is open. We will be adding updates to this article, please check back often.
Update 12:30pm 7.9.2022
The main part of the Washburn Fire has been mapped at 1120 acres and the largest spot fire to the north is 25 acres. The fire continues to spot ahead of itself. A spot fire near the Merced River is being worked heavily by fire crews and is less than a mile from Wawona. Fire crews continue to arrive in the area from many different agencies including federal and state crews. Numerous helicopters are over the fire and tankers are being used when the drift smoke allows for good visibility. Mandatory evacuations are still in place as posted below including Wawona and the campgrounds. The South entrance into Yosemite from Highway 41 is closed. All other areas of the park are open and access is available through Highways 140 and 120.
The Washburn fire as viewed from the Deadwood Alert wildfire camera on Saturday, 7.9.2022, at 1:00pm.
Update 8 :00am 7.9.2022
The Washburn Fire has grown to 703 acres. As reported earlier, mandatory evacuations are in place for the Mariposa Grove, Wawona and the Wawona Campgrounds. The head of the fire is still short of the Merced River although several spots landed in that area yesterday. Yesterday’s fire activity included long range spotting and continued overnight activity.
Wawona Road (Hwy 41) is open NORTHBOUND ONLY from Wawona (toward Yosemite Valley). Wawona Road is closed from Fish Camp (south) into the park.
The Red Cross of the Central Valley is opening an evacuation shelter at New Life Christian Fellowship (5089 Cole Road, Mariposa, CA 95338) for evacuees affected by the Washburn Fire in Yosemite. https://sierranewsonline.com/evacuation-shelter-opens-for-washburn-fire/
Update 4:30pm 7.8.2022
Mandatory evacuation order for the community of Wawona and Wawona Campground due to the Washburn fire. Please leave the area immediately. Wawona Road (Hwy 41) is open NORTHBOUND ONLY from Wawona (toward Yosemite Valley). Wawona Road is closed south of the golf course.
The Highway 41 – South Gate Entrance is now closed.
See map at https://arcg.is/1nzzzz0.
Shelter is available at Mariposa New Life Church 5089 Cole Rd, Mariposa CA.
More incident information: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/8209/.
Update 3:45pm 7.8.2022
A meeting for Wawona residents is scheduled for 7 pm this evening (outside the Wawona Community Center). https://evb.gg/n#zjxxxxoq3wq
Update 12:50pm 7.8.2022
From the Yosemite National Park Facebook page
Washburn Fire from the Deadwood Wildfire Alert camera
7.8.2022 1:00pm
The Washington Fire from Wawona Road and Chowchilla Mountain Road 7.8.2022 12:00pm
Courtesy of Tom Bopp
Update 10:40am 7.8.2022
Yosemite National Park Officials have released the following advisory:
Fire Advisory: Residents & visitors should prepare for a potential evacuation due to the Washburn Fire. https://evb.gg/n#g1ffffwv42v
FIRIS enabled Map link
Update 9:45am 7.8.2022
Due to better mapping conducted by FIRIS fire mapping aircraft the fire is currently 166 acres.
To view the Washburn Fire from the Alert Wildfire webcams you can go here.
##FireMappers Map of the Washburn Fire perimeter based on the FIRIS mapping aircraft Intel. 7.8.2022
Update 8:25am 7.8.2022
The Washburn fire is now currently 250 acres and remained very active overnight. Yosemite fire officials are requesting additional air and ground resources to report to the fire today. The fire is burning in areas that are drought stricken, bark beetle infested and were affected by the Mono Winds last year.
Highway 41 into the park is currently open but that could change. You can check current Yosemite road conditions by calling 209-372-0200 or on their website here.
Update 8:07pm 7.7.2022
The FIRIS high tech fire mapping air craft has mapped the fire at 46 acres including 5 spot fires that are less than 1/4 of an acre each. The Incident Commander (IC) is requesting that the firefighting aircraft return to the fire tomorrow morning at 8:00am.
The beginning of Washburn Fire Thursday 7.7.2022 courtesy of James Stevenson.
The Washburn Fire 6:00pm 7.7.2022 from Washburn Ln in Oakhurst
Courtesy of Linda Mulvey Westlund
Update 5:45pm 7.7.2022
Yosemite National Park announced on Twitter that the Mariposa Grove would be closed until further notice due to the fire.
The Washburn Fire is currently approximately 10 acres and the Mariposa Grove is closed until further notice. Firefighters are working to suppress the fire from the ground and air.
Original Post
YOSEMITE — At approximately 3:00pm on Thursday, July 7th, 2022 a wildfire was reported burning in Yosemite National Park. On the Wildcad dashboard it was documented as the “Washburn Fire” and only 1 acre with a slow rate of spread. Firefighting aircraft that were returning from a smaller fire in the Mariposa area were able to fly near the fire and confirm the fire and relay much needed information to Yosemite National Park (YNP) fire managers. It was determined that the fire was in the Mariposa Grove/ Wawona area near the Washburn trail.
Approximate location of the Washburn Fire in Yosemite National Park
The beginning of the Washburn Fire as seen from PG&E’s wildfire camera.
YNP fire officials immediately dispatched ground crews and their helicopter to begin fighting the fire. It was not long after that YNP officials put in a special request to use fire retardant in the park. This is not a common practice due to restrictions about the type of firefighting that can be conducted on National Park lands.
By 5:00pm the fire had progressed to approximately 10 acres and permission was granted to use the retardant. Immediately an order was put in for 4 tankers to begin fighting the fire from the air.
We will update this story as soon as we have any new information.
