Telegraph fire: Yosemite’s open, but air quality is poor
The Telegraph fire burning to the west of Yosemite National Park knocked out power lines that feed the heavily visited Yosemite Valley, leaving hotels, restaurants and other services to rely on backup generators, a park spokeswoman said.
As a result, the nature center at Happy Isles and the Ansel Adams Gallery are closed, but hotels, restaurants, campgrounds and back-country trails are open, according to Kari Cobb in Yosemite’s media relations department.
So if you have reservations or plan to visit, the park remains open but air quality is poor.
“I can’t see Half Dome from the valley floor,” Cobb said around 11 a.m. today. “I can barely see Glacier Point.” Cobb recommends any visitors with respiratory problems refrain from doing anything strenuous, but that’s about the only caveat so far.
Highway 140, the roadway leading into Yosemite from the southwest, remains open. Visitors taking that route will see the blaze, Cobb said.
– Mary Forgione, Los Angeles Times staff writer
[Photo: The Telegraph fire at Midpines, California, to the west of Yosemite National Park; Robert Durrell / Los Angeles Times]
11 Comments on “Telegraph fire: Yosemite’s open, but air quality is poor”
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July 28th, 2008 at 4:16 pm
how is the east side for air quality? has the smoke reacher the white mountains?
July 28th, 2008 at 4:50 pm
my dad just arrived in mammoth lakes (between white mtns and yosemite) and he said the air wasn’t as bad as he throught it would be. He said it was actually pretty good and was going out to go fishing.
July 28th, 2008 at 6:35 pm
Mammoth Pool to the south of Yosemite is unaffected by the fire at Yosemite. It’s great up there!
July 28th, 2008 at 7:21 pm
how does housekeeping camp look for Aug 24, 2008?
July 29th, 2008 at 11:06 am
Just returned from Yosemite. The fire started as we left the Valley on Saturday for White Wolf.
From our vantage point on the Tioga Pass the haze was much thicker in the Valley and slightly visible above 8000 ft. But as evening fell the sky grew orange and the Valley became totally obscured and the smell of smoke was in the air even at 10,000 ft. Saddlebag Lake. At White Wolf we could hear our fellow campers coughing through the night.
Monday morning the haze was slightly visible in Tuolumne Meadows. And by the afternoon we could smell just a hint of smoke as we returned from Glen Aulin.
Our advice: Stay out of the Valley. It’s a zoo during a normal summer day But with smoke pooling in that basin and just basic services, well, ask for a refund…
July 29th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
anyone know about the town of coarsegold? i know its abouts 30 miles away from it but what are the chances of smoke reaching it?
July 29th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
sam -
We were driving down the hill through Coarsegold on Saturday, and it looked a bit smokey. I believe they were getting reports of ash falling in Fresno, so it’s likely the Coarsegold is experiencing much the same.
Best wishes to locals and visitors to stay safe and healthy.
July 29th, 2008 at 6:39 pm
We are supposed to camp in the valley on Aug 5 for 3 days, we aren’t to optimistic about making the trip with the fire only being 15% contained today…any thoughts?
July 29th, 2008 at 7:40 pm
Are not the lives and homes of people in the affected towns more important than not being able to see El Capitan for a few weeks? So sorry that your vacations are a disappointment! The smoke will go away in time. At least 25 have already lost their homes and more are likely to. Jim Brown, Delta, CO (brother of evacuee)
July 29th, 2008 at 10:15 pm
We have reservations at Curry Village for Aug. 3-6. I tried to cancel Tues. AM, as both kids have asthma, but was told they were not offering refunds at this time. Too bad they care more about making money, than the health of their guests.
July 30th, 2008 at 8:14 pm
Well, 40% containment today…sounds like things are getting under more control..how many homes were burned?