🔥 CAYNP Dome Fire
Description
Last updated: 2026-09-18 --- The type of incident is Wildfire and involves the following unit(s) Yosemite National Park. --- State: California --- Coordinates: Latitude: 37° 33 58 Longitude: 119° 36 82 --- NOTE: All fire perimeters and points are approximations. --- Incident Overview: Public Information Map (Pdf)     |      Daily Update (pdf)     |     Yosemite NP Air Quality  / AirNow Smoke Monitoring    |    Yosemite National Park Facebook Page The Dome Fire was reported on the morning of September 15, 2026. It is in the backcountry and located approximately 1/4 mile north of Chilnualna Falls and is visible from the Wawona Road (Highway 41). Current Situation: The Dome Fire remained active overnight with moderate activity to the north and northwest. The fire is moving to the north and northwest with slow backing behavior, while it has reached the 2017 Empire Fire footprint to the north and northeast with creeping and smoldering behavior. Numerous spot fires continue to be well out ahead to the north of the fire due to gusty, ridge winds from the south.Today, ground and air resources are continuing efforts to fully suppress the fire. Multiple hotshot crews have been flown into the fire, and they continue to create and improve direct hand lines along the western and eastern flanks from the heel of the fire. Firefighters are working in steep, rugged terrain and utilizing natural barriers and previous fire footprints where possible. Ground crews are supported by continuous water drops by multiple helicopters assigned to the fire. California Incident Management Team 3 has now assumed command of the Dome Fire, taking over responsibility for all incident operations and planning.Weather: Warming temperatures and lower relative humidity are expected over the weekend. Typical daily wind patterns are expected in the fire area with late morning and afternoon west winds around 10 mph. A few gusts around 15-20 mph are possible on exposed ridges this afternoon with slightly lower wind speeds on Saturday.Smoke Impacts / Air Quality:  As fire activity continues, we will see air quality generally degrade with more haze in our skies. Today, El Portal and Wawona will see the most smoke with air quality in the UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS range and some possible improvement in the afternoon. Yosemite Valley will maintain mostly MODERATE air quality with possible periods of smoke in the afternoon. Tuolumne Valley will see air quality ranging from MODERATE to UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS, with the smokiest periods being in the afternoon and evening. Hodgdon Meadow should avoid most of the smoke during the day, but air quality will likely stay more in the MODERATE range. Mariposa can expect GOOD air quality overall, but smoke will likely move in overnight and tomorrow leading to more MODERATE air quality and some hazy skies.Dominant winds have been from the South and Southwest, which is pushing the smoke up and over the mountains into Nevada, however some smoke is expected overnight in the valleys within Yosemite National Park.  View current Air Quality Monitoring at https://fire.airnow.gov/#7/38.532/-119.416 Temporary Trail Closure:   Yosemite National Park is open and operating normally, with the following exception. The Chilnualna Falls trail, as well as the trails from the top of Chilnualna Falls toward Buena Vista and Crescent Lakes, are closed due to the Dome Fire (these lakes are reachable from the east.) The closed area also extends east of the Wawona Road from Wawona to Chinquapin, as seen on the public information map: https://arcg.is/z5HLC4.  View the full Closure OrderSince 1916, the National Park Service has been entrusted with the care of our national parks. With the help of volunteers and partners, we safeguard these special places and share their stories with more than 318 million visitors every year. But our work doesn't stop there.We are proud that tribes, local governments, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and individual citizens ask for our help in revitalizing their communities, preserving local history, celebrating local heritage, and creating close-to-home opportunities for kids and families to get outside, be active, and have fun. --- Source: InciWeb | http://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/caynp-dome-fire
Location
CA - Active Wildfire
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Details
Observed
Tuesday, September 15, 2026
Auto-expires
October 3, 2026
Reported by
Trail Conditions Bot
Sep 19, 2026