YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK (CN) — Crews have been able to save the famous Mariposa Grove of sequoia trees in Yosemite National Park from destruction even as containment on the Washburn Fire inched upward overnight.
As of Friday morning the Washburn Fire has burned 4,759 acres and is 31% contained, mainly around the grove and on Highway 41 near the town of Wawona. Crews will continue to monitor the Mariposa Grove, though most of the activity has now moved to the eastern edge of the fire.
Conditions remain hot and the fire continues to burn through thick and dry fuels, though growth has slowed due to the lack of wind in the area. Fire activity remains high at night due to low relative humidity — conditions that will persist into next week.
The Washburn Fire began July 7 near the Washburn Trail in Yosemite National Park and began moving toward Wawona and Mariposa Grove. Crews immediately began building containment lines to keep the fire away from the nearly 500 mature sequoia trees within the grove — some of them nearly 3,000 years old.
To help combat the low humidity and dry conditions crews installed sprinklers throughout the grove to protect the trees.
Crews continue to struggle to build containment lines of the eastern flank of the fire due to the steep terrain even as it moves toward Mt. Raymond. Helicopters have been dropping water on the eastern and northern edges of the fire.
Meanwhile, containment lines on the south side of the fire are holding as the fire has reached a rocky area. Crews there are working on contingency lines in case the fire jumps current containment lines.
The Mariposa Grove predates Yosemite National Park, having been protected in 1864 by President Abraham Lincoln as the first location within the United States to be protected for its natural beauty. The grove became a part of Yosemite National Park in 1906 and is one of the most popular places within the park.
Yosemite National Park remains open, though the southern entrance on Highway 41 is closed due to the fire. As with many national parks, reservations are required to visit Yosemite.
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