The destructive Washburn fire at Yosemite National Park, which had reached 3,221 acres by Monday evening, was caused by human activities, according to park officials.
Yosemite’s Fire and Aviation team held a public meeting on July 11 informing residents of suppression strategies for the Washburn fire.
“As you all know, there was no lightning on that day. So it’s a human start fire and it’s under investigation,” the park’s Superintendent Cicely Muldoon said. “That’s all I can really say about that right now. We’re looking at that really hard.”
Seen from unincorporated Mariposa County, Calif., a helicopter drops water on the Washburn Fire burning in Yosemite National Park on Saturday, July 9, 2022. (Noah Berger/AP Photo)
During the meeting, Muldoon also addressed fallen trees and debris from the mono-wind event last year and said the park has been working on a project to reduce fire hazards that may affect local communities….