The Dome Fire Has Nearly Doubled Again, With the First Containment Line Held

The fire above Wawona that closed the Chilnualna Falls Trail on Tuesday was mapped at 100 acres that afternoon. By Wednesday afternoon it had reached 1,177 with no containment at all. The latest interagency perimeter mapping puts it at 1,976 acres with 10 percent contained — the first line crews have managed to hold.

California Interagency Management Team 3 took command on Thursday, with 187 personnel assigned. The National Park Service holds jurisdiction and Cal Fire air resources are supporting.

The behaviour explains the growth. The fire is making upslope runs aligned with terrain and wind, flanking and backing through grass, brush and timber, with short-range spotting observed. It sits in wilderness on steep, rugged ground with limited access, which keeps crews off much of the edge and puts the weight of the effort in the air.

The fire centre sits roughly five miles northeast of Wawona, north of Wawona Dome and up toward Turner Meadow and Turner Ridge. It is not threatening the community, and the park remains open. What is closed is the Chilnualna Falls Trail and the routes from the top of the falls toward Buena Vista and Crescent lakes, both still reachable from the east.

Estimated containment remains September 30, which at ten percent should be read as a planning figure rather than a forecast. Smoke has carried as far as Douglas County, Nevada. The cause is still under investigation.