Washburn Fire Burns in Yosemite National Park, Threatening Historic Trees

Posted: July 12, 2022 11:15 am

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A wildfire in California are threatening the legendary sequoia trees that call Yosemite National Park home. This is happening as the West continues to deal with relentless heat.

Details of Washburn Fire

While it had been relatively quiet on the wildfire scene in California so far this summer, a new fire quickly doubled in size on Sunday in Yosemite National Park. This wildfire has already burned over 2,000 acres as it inches closer to the area’s famous sequoia trees.

The Washburn Fire forced the evacuation of the town of Wawona last Friday as the flames quickly grew in size and intensity. At least one firenado developed from this fire, sending debris into the air and almost striking a plane on the scene to battle the flames. Many campers in the area were also forced to leave as the fire grew.

The cause of the blaze is still under investigation. It is believed that the fire first started on July 7.

Status of Yosemite Operations

It has already been a challenging year for the National Park Service (NPS) after immense rainfall and the subsequent flooding forced the closure of Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. The good news is that Yosemite National Park remains mostly open to visitors as of Monday. However, park officials are warning that the smoke generated by the fire has lowered air quality levels while also blocking some of the most beautiful views within the park.

While authorities are growing increasingly concerned about the safety of the giant sequoia trees, none of these beauties within the Mariposa Grove have been seriously damaged so far. The NPS uses a sprinkler system throughout the grove to keep the ground and the massive trunks of the trees moist. This is done in an effort to avert encroaching flames.

Environmentalists are right to be concerned about the well-being of the giant sequoias. Almost 20% of the park’s sequoias have been burned over the last two years because of wildfires, most commonly started by lightning.

Although the fire season has not yet spiraled out of control in California, it is important to note that it typically does not get going until later in August. Forecasters are expecting another difficult fire season out West.

Unseasonable Heat a Factor in Fire Containment

Complicating the firefighting efforts are the unseasonably warm conditions throughout Yosemite National Park and beyond. While the average high in the park during the middle of July hovers in the upper 80s, the forecast high for this week is for temperatures to reach into the mid to upper 90s. The park saw readings in the triple digits to end the month of June, helping to provide the conditions for fires to spread quickly once started.

Widespread heat will impact much of the West Coast this week. A heat dome is forecast to intensify in the coming days, sending the mercury skyrocketing. As is the case with heat domes, the sinking air means that cloud cover and the resulting rain is mitigated.

Who Will See the Heat?

Typical of this time of year, the Desert Southwest will see the most searing heat of the week. Temperatures will climb to over 110 degrees in cities such as Las Vegas, Palm Springs, and Phoenix.

This heat will also expand into the Four Corners region. Officials are warning visitors to places such as Utah’s Zion National Park and Arches National Park in Utah to avoid spending time outdoors in the peak afternoon heating hours. This is particularly important if your body is not acclimated to this type of heat.

Despite the arrival of the North American monsoon season, the moisture has been relatively spotty over the last few weeks. This means that the ground is exceptionally dry and more susceptible to dry lighting storms.

The unseasonable warmth will also hang on in Texas for the next few days with places such as Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio all seeing temperatures well over the century mark. The ongoing heat prompted the largest power grid operator in the Lone Star State to request that its customers conserve power on Monday afternoon in order to avoid a power grid meltdown.

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