Yosemite Photos, Video and News

In preperation for the control burn planned at Crane Flat next week, Yosmeite fire has installed this dipping tank.

It is used by helicopters to fill up there water drop containers used for fires.

I assume this is now required after last years disastrous Big Meadow Fire. The Big Meadow Control Burn was set last 8/26/10, yes in August after 3 years of drought!, and was to burn the 96 acre Big Meadow in Foresta. Within 10 minutes the control burn was out of control and almost burned down the homes in Foresta. It closed a campground and roads for weeks and was the most expensive fire in Yosemite history costing $20 million. It is a miracle that homes in Foresta did not burn down!

Part of last years plan for the Big Meadow Control Burn was to have a bulldozer on site (it was on site) to cut lines if it got out of control. The superintendent was at the start of the control burn yet could not give permission for the bulldozer to cut fire lines when it got out of control. They had to call some person in Yosemite resources protection division and it took almost 2 hours for that person to give permission for the bulldozer to cut lines, go figure! They did not have a helicopter on station.

After this fire Yosemite NPS had to rethink the fire policy. Hopefully they are better prepared this time.