少し古い(Sep. 26)ニュースですが、2,300エーカーほどのPrescribed Burn が予定されています。特に10月、Gin Flat(Crane Flatの東)付近はかなり煙そうです。
http://www.nps.gov/yose/news/2005/fire0926.htm より
Yosemite National Park Prepares for the Fall Prescribed Burn Season
Yosemite National Park fire managers plan approximately 2,300 acres of prescribed burning in the low to mid-elevation, mixed-conifer forest of the park in the upcoming fall months. These projects will be dependent on various conditions, including weather, air quality, fuel moisture levels, and available fire management resources.
Prescribed fire is an important tool used to reduce heavy undergrowth and built up forest debris while simultaneously opening the conifer forest structure and maintaining the health of the meadow habitats.
In Yosemite West (PW 17), two burn units, totaling 235 acres are planned for the end of September. This burn will assist in thinning nearby forest areas to help reduce unnatural levels of woody debris in areas that are in close proximity to public and private structures.
In the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, 66 acres are planned for ignition to help propagate the growth of giant sequoias and promote ecosystem health as well as prepare the open, sunny seedbed needed for them to germinate.
In Yosemite Valley, one small burn unit totaling 19 acres is planned in the east end of the valley, near Backpackers Campground. These projects aim to support ongoing oak woodland and meadow restoration goals.
In October, Yosemite fire managers plan to ignite 2,000 acres as a continuation of the Gin Flat Prescribed Burn (PW 3). 360 acres of this unit were burned in early September. This burn will be located near the Tuolumne Grove extending east to the burn boundary from the initial Gin Flat Prescribed Burn project in 2002. This burn will provide a reduction of both fuels and fire hazards to the Yosemite Institute, Crane Flat, and the Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias.
To help minimize smoke impacts, this larger unit will be burned in smaller segments. The size and longevity of this project requires the close cooperation of park fire staff and county air quality managers. Daily collaboration will determine how many, if any, acres can be ignited from day-to-day, depending on how well smoke can be ventilated away from populated areas. Yosemite will manage the Gin Flat project following protocols regarding notifications for smoke levels.
In addition to prescribed burn projects, pile burning will be ongoing throughout the fall and winter months, dependent upon precipitation and available wet conditions. Be prepared to encounter smoke on the Wawona Road, south of Chinquapin as well as some areas along the Big Oak Flat road, west of Crane Flat.
Two trail closures are in effect due to the lightning-ignited Wapama Fire, which was ignited on September 20, 2005 and is being managed by fire crews. Trails closed are:
The Beehive Meadow trail above the Hetch Hetchy switchbacks
Frog Creek Trail
With all burn projects, smoke impacts to the roadway may occur, so please use caution when driving in and around the burn area where smoke, fire vehicles, equipment, and personnel may be present.
For more information on the park's burn plans and policies, call Yosemite's Prescribed Fire Office at 209/375-9574, 209/375-9577 (recorded information), or visit the park web site at www.nps.gov/yose/fire.
-NPS-