Washburn Fire

Washburn Fire
The smoke plume of the Washburn Fire as seen from Oakhurst
Date(s)
  • July 11, 2022 (2022-07-11) –
  • August 1, 2022 (2022-08-01)[1]
LocationYosemite National Park
Sierra National Forest
California, United States
Coordinates37°26′56″N 119°36′50″W / 37.449°N 119.614°W / 37.449; -119.614
Statistics[1]
Burned area4,886 acres (20 km2)
Ignition
CauseHuman Start
Map
Washburn Fire is located in Northern California
Washburn Fire
Location of fire in California.

The Washburn Fire was a wildfire that burned in Yosemite National Park near the Mariposa Grove of giant sequoias. The fire was reported on July 7, 2022, in the lower Mariposa Grove area near the Washburn trail, for which the fire is named.[2] The fire quickly attracted national attention due in part to the role the Mariposa Grove played in the establishment of Yosemite National Park and the National Park Service.[3]

The cause of the fire was referred to as a "human-start".[4] The fire caused evacuations of Wawona and impacted tourism and air quality in the Sierra National Forest and surrounding communities. The fire was fully contained and was put out on August 1 and burned a total area of 4,886 acres (1,977 ha).[1]

Progression

[edit]

The Washburn Fire was reported in the afternoon of July 7, 2022, near the Washburn Trail in the Mariposa Grove area of Yosemite National Park. Approximately 450 visitors were evacuated before tanker airplanes were cleared to drop wildfire retardant in the area of the grove.[5]

On July 13, the fire expanded into the Sierra National Forest, traveling up the Merced River drainage and away from Mariposa Grove.[6] On that day, the White House assistant press secretary stated that "We are closely monitoring the Yosemite wildfire, and the President has been briefed."[7]

By July 18, almost 1,600 firefighters were assigned to the fire with an estimated cost of fighting the fire up to that point estimated at $16.3 million.[8]

Effects

[edit]

Closures

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The Mariposa Grove and South Entrance to Yosemite National Park, along Highway 41, were closed. A mandatory evacuation order was given for the Wawona area, including the historic Wawona Hotel.[1] Wawona residents and property owners were allowed to return on Sunday, July 17 as the fire exceeded fifty percent containment and continued to burn mostly to the east of the community.[9] The Mariposa Grove reopened to the public on August 3, 2022.[10]

Environmental

[edit]
The image depicts a wildland firefighter, as viewed from behind, bent over and using their handtool to extinguish a burning log.
A wildland firefighter performing mop up operations in the Mariposa Grove of Sequoias.

The Washburn Fire threatened the giant sequoias of Mariposa Grove, which has some of the world's largest and most visited trees, including the Grizzly Giant. On July 9, fire crews acted to protect the trees, spraying the trees with hoses. Protective, fire-resistant material was also wrapped around the trunks.[11] Additional preventative measures were taken on July 11, including a fire sprinkler system to increase relative humidity around the Grizzly Giant and the wrapping of the historic Galen Clark cabin.[12][13]

Fire preparation measures, including fuel reduction over the past 50 years and the restoration of hydrology during the Mariposa Grove Restoration Project, have been effective in preventing permanent damage to sequoias exposed to the fire, which include the Galen Clark Tree.[14][15]

Growth and containment

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Fire containment status[1]
Gray: contained; Red: active; %: percent contained;
Date Area burned
acres		 Containment
Jul 10 1,591
0%
Jul 11 2,340
25%
Jul 12 2,700
22%
Jul 13 4,261
23%
Jul 14 4,375
23%
Jul 15 4,759
31%
Jul 16 4,822
37%
Jul 17 4,864
53%
Jul 18[1] 4,911
50%
Jul 19[1] 4,863
58%
Jul 20[1] 4,856
58%
Jul 22[1] 4,856
79%
Jul 25[1] 4,866
87%
Jul 30[1] 4,866
97%
Aug 4[1] 4,866
100%

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Washburn Fire". InciWeb. InciWeb – Incident Information System. Archived from the original on July 11, 2022. Retrieved July 11, 2022.
  2. ^ Jacobs, Trisha (July 9, 2022). "Washburn Fire Continues to Threaten Yosemite". Sierra News Online. Archived from the original on July 9, 2022. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
  3. ^ Albeck-Ripka, Livia (July 12, 2022). "How to Save an Ancient, Giant Tree From a Wildfire". The New York Times. Archived from the original on July 13, 2022. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  4. ^ Green, Jason (July 11, 2022). "Yosemite blaze was a 'human-start fire,' park superintendent says". The Mercury News. Archived from the original on July 12, 2022. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  5. ^ Sheehan, Tim (July 20, 2022). "Yosemite declined offer for retardant air-drop in Washburn Fire's early hours. Here's why". The Sacramento Bee. Archived from the original on July 20, 2022. Retrieved July 21, 2022.
  6. ^ Yee, Gregory (July 13, 2022). "Washburn fire moves into Sierra National Forest as fire fight continues in Yosemite". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on July 16, 2022. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
  7. ^ Julia, Musto (July 13, 2022). "White House monitoring Yosemite wildfire". Fox News. Archived from the original on July 16, 2022. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
  8. ^ Sheehan, Tim (July 18, 2022). "Yosemite wildfire update: Wawona residents return as Washburn Fire nears 5,000 acres". The Fresno Bee. Archived from the original on July 18, 2022. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
  9. ^ "Residents return as containment grows for Washburn Fire in Yosemite". CBS News Bay Area. July 17, 2022. Archived from the original on July 17, 2022. Retrieved July 17, 2022.
  10. ^ Carmen, Kohlruss (August 3, 2022). "Yosemite's Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias reopens following Washburn Fire". The Sacramento Bee. Archived from the original on November 1, 2023. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  11. ^ Iati, Marisa (July 9, 2022). "Yosemite wildfire threatens over 500 giant sequoias in Mariposa Grove". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on July 10, 2022. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
  12. ^ Smith, Hayley (July 11, 2022). "Firefighters race to defend ancient sequoias from 2,300-acre Washburn fire in Yosemite". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on July 11, 2022. Retrieved July 11, 2022. "We really don't want to leave this one to chance because this really is such an iconic tree," forest ecologist Garrett Dickman said.
  13. ^ "Sprinkler System Installed In Forest, Cabin Wrapped In Foil As Wildfire Threatens Yosemite's Beloved Sequoias". CBS 13 Sacramento. July 11, 2022. Archived from the original on July 11, 2022. Retrieved July 11, 2022.
  14. ^ Harrell, Ashley (July 11, 2022). "Yosemite's Mariposa Grove will survive Washburn Fire, says park's forest ecologist". SF Gate. Archived from the original on July 11, 2022. Retrieved July 11, 2022.
  15. ^ "Mariposa Fire Restoration Project". nps.gov. National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. July 11, 2022. Archived from the original on March 6, 2022. Retrieved July 11, 2022.
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