Yosemite fire winds down, roads reopen

The Big Meadow Fire in Yosemite destroyed 7,425 acres. Areas along the side of the road still contain hot spots. Mike Morris/Union Democrat, copyright 2009

Park officials closed the road from Crane Flat to its intersection with El Portal Road on Aug. 26, when a controlled burn quickly escaped its boundaries.
 

The Big Meadow Fire has since torched 7,425 acres, or 11.6 square miles, and cost an estimated $15.8 million to put out.

A sign near the park’s Big Oak Flat Entrance Station warns visitors that fire danger is “very high.” As motorists approached Crane Flat on Tuesday, they were greeted by a lengthy backup. The planned 5 p.m. road opening was delayed by nearly an hour.

Once past Crane Flat, smoke drifted across the road as the ground continued to smolder. A blanket of ash covered much of the forest.

Visiting from North Carolina, Doug Hamrick videotaped the torched landscape as his wife, Karen, took pictures. Hamrick said he was glad the fire was contained and that Yosemite Valley was accessible again.

“We traveled 3,000 miles so we definitely want to see what’s here,” he said.

The blaze started about two miles east of El Portal near Foresta, a small community the prescribed burn was meant to protect.

As of Tuesday, about 400 personnel were still assigned to the fire, down from about 1,300 at the fire’s peak a week ago. Four fire crews, 13 engines, three helicopters and seven water tenders were still in use. Three firefighters have suffered minor injuries from the blaze.

Hazardous-tree cutting and debris removal continued along the road Tuesday. Firefighters are patrolling all areas of the fire to mop up hot spots, restore trails and pack out equipment, park officials said.

Officials are advising motorists to drive slowly with their headlights on as road crews will be working and the area will still be smoky from burning vegetation.

The Tamarack and Crane Flat campgrounds remain closed, as do three trails leading to El Capitan: Old Big Oak Flat, Rockslides and Tamarack Creek.