Morning showers around Carson City keep smoke at bay from growing Yosemite fire
Submitted by Jeff Munson on Mon, 09/08/2014 - 9:52am
The Meadow Fire burning in Yosemite National Park continues to grow, with smoke expected to impact the Carson City and Carson Valley areas though it has been minimal because of rain showers throughout the region.
The blaze may be a spot fire from the Meadow Fire, believed to be caused by lightning, forest and park officials said. It was discovered at approximately 12:30 p.m. Sunday and has grown to 2,582 acres as of Monday morning. It is burning within the Little Yosemite Valley on both sides of the Merced River.
According to the National Weather Service in Reno, rain showers this morning helped keep the smoke at a minimum. There should not be as much smoke today as Sunday due to the showers and thunderstorms. Smoke may be visible as far north as Reno and Lake Tahoe but as the westerly winds increase today, expect the main smoke impacts to be south of Highway 50, according to the weather service.
Last year, smoke from the massive Rim Fire near Yosemite affected air quality in the Carson City, Reno and Carson Valley areas for weeks.
All trails in the area are closed, park official said. Approximately 100 hikers and backpackers were evacuated from the fire area in LYV. The fire is burning in Yosemite Wilderness and the High Sierra Camps were seasonally closed today.
Eighty-five hikers and climbers were also evacuated from the summit of Half Dome by helicopters from the California Highway Patrol, US 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 PM, September 8, 2014.
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 Little Yosemite Valley
Sunrise Creek Drainage to Little Yosemite Valley (John Muir Trail)
Merced River Corridor to Merced Lake Ranger Station
Nevada Fall east through Little Yosemite Valley along the Merced River corridor.
Sunrise trail to Clouds Rest from Tenaya Lake
Smoke Impacts: Visitors, campers, employees are likely to have air quality smoke impacts overnight and early morning hours in Yosemite Valley. Key points:
Fires of this magnitude, in this area of the park have in the past produce heavy smoke that drains down into Yosemite Valley, so be prepared for smoke in the Unhealthy AQI range or worse in the mornings, with some clearing in the afternoon hours.
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