A fast-growing wildfire burning in a remote section of Yosemite National Park has expanded to more than 1,100 acres and remains completely uncontained Thursday morning, prompting trail closures near one of the park's most popular waterfall areas.
The Dome Fire was first reported around 8:28 a.m. Tuesday north of Wawona Dome in Mariposa County. As of Thursday morning, the wildfire had burned 1,177.1 acres and was 0% contained, according to fire officials. The cause remains under investigation.
The fire is burning north of Wawona Dome and within a quarter-mile of Chilnualna Falls, a well-known Yosemite destination. National Park Service officials said firefighters are battling the blaze in steep, rugged wilderness terrain that is difficult to access.
The fire grew rapidly on Wednesday, increasing from about 300 acres in the morning to more than 1,000 acres by the afternoon. Officials reported moderate fire spread to the north and northeast, while crews used natural barriers and secured fire lines on portions of the south and west sides of the blaze. As of Thursday morning, it has burned 1,177 acres and remained uncontained.
Smoke from the wildfire was visible along Highway 41 in Yosemite, and officials warned visitors to expect changing conditions as firefighting efforts continue.
Dome Fire evacuations
As of Thursday morning, no evacuations had been announced for the Dome Fire. However, residents and visitors should continue monitoring official fire updates as conditions can change rapidly.
The fire is burning within a few miles of Wawona, a historic Yosemite community that includes lodging, cabins and the Yosemite History Center.
Where is the Dome Fire in California? See map
Dome Fire road closures and trail closures
No roadway closures were announced Thursday morning, but several trails are closed because of the wildfire.
Closed areas include:
- Chilnualna Falls Trail
- Trails above Chilnualna Falls connecting to Buena Vista Lake
- Trails above Chilnualna Falls connecting to Crescent Lake
Visitors planning trips to the Wawona area should check Yosemite National Park alerts before traveling.
Dome Fire weather and fire conditions
Firefighters face challenging conditions because the blaze is burning deep in Yosemite wilderness and in rugged terrain that limits access. Officials said crews have relied heavily on natural barriers while constructing and strengthening containment lines.
While portions of the fire perimeter have been secured, officials reported no overall containment Thursday morning.
What does 0% containment mean?
Containment refers to how much of a wildfire's perimeter firefighters have surrounded with control lines. A fire that is 0% contained means officials have not yet established completed containment lines around the blaze.
Containment does not mean a fire is extinguished, and a higher containment percentage does not necessarily mean all danger has passed. Fire managers continually update containment figures as crews construct, inspect and reinforce fire lines.
The Dome Fire is the latest wildfire to threaten the Yosemite area, where firefighters previously mounted a major response to the 2022 Washburn Fire near the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias.
Officials continue to investigate the cause of the Dome Fire. Fire updates are available through Yosemite National Park and InciWeb incident reports.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Dome Fire in Yosemite grows to 1,100 acres, visitors warned of threats
