Smoke clogs Yosemite area as firefighters battle blaze
MARIPOSA, Calif. – Hot, dry weather Tuesday hindered efforts to slow the growth of a forest fire near Yosemite National Park that killed a California firefighter last weekend, leading some tourists to cut short their visits although all park trails remained open.
The blaze roaring through dry brush and timber between the town of Mariposa and Yosemite National Park has scorched more than 19 square miles in steep terrain on the park’s western edge, the U.S. Forest Service said.
More than 1,400 firefighters were battling the flames threatening more than 100 homes and businesses, the Forest Service said. It’s just 5 percent contained.
An inversion layer trapped smoke in the area, limiting air attacks and leading officials to issue a hazardous air alert, saying people with health conditions should stay indoors.
“Use common sense. If it looks smoky outside it’s probably not a good time to go for a run, and it’s probably not a good time for your children to play outdoors,” Mariposa County officials said.
Alyssa Sandoval of Pollock Pines, California, had planned to leave the park Tuesday but left a day early after spending a couple of hours in a smoke-filled valley.
“The smoke was horrible; it was horrible. My mother got sick; my husband’s eyes were stinging, burning,” she said. “I’ve never seen the valley like that. It was smoked out. You didn’t even know you were in Yosemite.”
Park spokesman Scott Gediman said all amenities and trails remained opened Tuesday and park rangers tending the entrances and the visitor center were informing tourists of the poor air quality.
Information was also posted on the park’s social media accounts.
Air quality monitors showed particulate levels in the park at “very unhealthy” levels, meaning everyone should avoid prolonged or heavy exertion or risk serious health effects such as respiratory problems.
Tourists plan their visit to Yosemite months or even years in advance, and so far there have been few cancellations, Gediman said.
“There certainly is less people than you would see on a typical July day, but there is still a lot of people taking photos and enjoying themselves,” he said.
Images posted to social media showed billowing smoke completely obscuring Half Dome, an iconic rock formation. Park webcams showed other landmarks, such as the El Capitan rock formation, at times concealed by thick plumes of smoke.
Graduate student Paul Schlesinger, 28, said the smoke-choked air and raining ash forced him and a group of friends to change their plans to hike up to Glacier Point, which normally offers sweeping views.