Washburn Fire to remain active but is ‘not a direct threat’ to Mariposa Grove, officials say

OAKHURST – The Washburn Fire burning in Yosemite National Park will remain active in the coming days, but it will not directly threaten the giant sequoias within the Mariposa Grove, officials said.

In an incident overview Wednesday, the National Park Service said warm and dry conditions coupled with heavy fuels are “creating the perfect recipe for the very active fire behavior we are seeing.”

The blaze is expected to produce heavy smoke for the next few days as fire activity increases each afternoon, when temperatures are at their highest and relative humidity is at its lowest.

“This is expected and not a direct threat to the giant sequoias,” according to the overview.

The Mariposa Grove is home to more than 500 mature giant sequoias. It was first protected by Abraham Lincoln in 1864 and served as the root of the national park system.

The forecast for the coming week calls for temperatures in the low 90s and relative humidity in the 20-30% range. Winds over the fire area are expected to remain light to moderate.

As of Thursday morning, the fire had charred 4,375 acres and was 23% contained.

According to the overview, sections of the fire cannot be fought head-on by crews due to safety risks, but “much of the rest of the fire is being successfully suppressed.”

“Fire lines are being strengthened, unburned fuels in the path of the fire are being burned to ‘starve the fire’ and hot spots are being cooled,” according to the overview.

The fire is now burning in the Sierra National Forest, according to the U.S. Forest Service. On Wednesday, Forest Routes 5S43, 5S06, 5S22 and 5S37 were closed “to aid firefighters and protect public safety during the Washburn Fire,” the agency said in a news release.

The closures, which affect less than 1% of the 1.3 million-acre forest, will run until Aug. 1.

The Mariposa Grove remains closed, as does Highway 41 from Yosemite National Park’s southern entrance to Henness Ridge Road. The rest of the park is still open.

A community meeting on the fire is scheduled to take place at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Oakhurst Community Center, located at 39800 Fresno Flats Road in Oakhurst. The meeting will also be live-streamed at https://www.facebook.com/YosemiteFire.

Check back for updates.