YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, Calif. (KCBS RADIO) – The Washburn Fire is still only 22% contained after growing to more than 3,200 acres on Tuesday, and the blaze has caused several days of tension for residents living near the park and those in the Bay Area planning to visit Yosemite.
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Visitors with reservations to camp on Yosemite National Park's southern tip likely have already been notified of cancellations. A campsite manager told KCBS Radio that she called a number of disappointed future visitors to let them know that their reserved campground was closed.
But Yosemite National Park is so big that, even as a fire of that size continues burning on its southern tip, visitors to Yosemite Valley continued going about their vacations on Tuesday. As of publication, the park remained open to visitors in all other areas except where the fire was burning.
Air quality in Yosemite on Tuesday was moderate at best and unhealthy for sensitive groups at worst, according to the NowCast Air Quality Index, a day after reaching unhealthy levels. The amount of visible smoke has largely depended upon when you’re looking.
The top of Half Dome was visible on Tuesday afternoon, as most of it was still clouded by smoke. Gurav, who was visiting with his family from Dallas, told KCBS Radio he has seen the smoke levels change every day since the fire broke out.
"There was a lot of smoke yesterday," he said on Tuesday. "I think today was good. It's not that bad. It's a lot of -- when you come out, it felt like, 'Where are you?' It's such a different kind of experience."
The smoke, however, remained very noticeable on Tuesday to people who are very sensitive to particulate matter in the air.
"Now that we’re here, it’s definitely burning our noses a bit," Colleen, an Oakland resident, told KCBS Radio on Tuesday. "But honestly, not as bad as we thought it would be, although I will say the night sky is kind of not what it normally is."
If you planned on visiting Yosemite Valley, the choice is up to you. Richard, an El Dorado Hills resident whose planned hiking trip turned into a driving, sightseeing tour, had a piece of advice for Bay Area residents contemplating a trip.
"I would wait if you’re local and can come another time," he told KCBS Radio.
Fire crews told KCBS Radio on Tuesday that the blaze has burned rather predictably, which is exactly what they hoped for on one this big. They said they’re making good progress chasing the fire towards rocks and water, and away from the famous grove of giant sequoias and the town of Wawona.
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