Yosemite National Park to Remain Closed after Wind Damage

Crews work to repair downed electrical lines

 

This photo provided by Yosemite National Park shows a boardwalk in the Mariposa Grove in Yosemite National Park was damaged by a fallen ponderosa pine during the Mono wind event on Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021. Yosemite National Park will remain closed through the weekend after high winds that battered much of California knocked down two giant sequoias and caused millions of dollars in damage. (Yosemite National Park via AP)

 

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, Calif. (AP) — Yosemite National Park will remain closed through the weekend after high winds that battered much of California knocked down two giant sequoias and caused millions of dollars in damage.

See also  Connecticut Firefighters Face Wildfire and Rattlesnakes

The park hoped to reopen Tuesday except for areas south of Yosemite Valley, including one entrance, that will remain shut to visitors, the park said Thursday.

High winds that began Monday swept through the state, toppling trees and power lines and knocking out electricity to about 300,000 homes and businesses. Utilities also intentionally blacked out tens of thousands of customers to prevent fires erupting from damaged or downed electrical equipment.

The winds eased Tuesday in the northern and central areas and Wednesday in the south.

Yosemite was struck Monday night. Two giant sequoias in the lower grove of Yosemite’s Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias were among trees that fell, park spokesman Scott Gediman told the Sacramento Bee.

See also  Health Advisory Issued for Colorado Wildfire Smoke

Trees also crushed trucks and damaged buildings, including employee homes. Also crushed were a boardwalk and bathroom installed during a $40 million restoration that was finished in 2018, Gediman said.

Crews were working to repair downed electrical lines, especially in the Wawona community, a south park area that remained without power on Thursday, Gediman said.

Among the areas closed until deemed safe was the Tunnel View, a scenic viewpoint on State Route 41 in the Wawona area that offers sweeping views of such icons as Half Dome and Bridalveil Fall.

The park is only open to day visitors. Campgrounds and lodges have been closed for several weeks because the park is trying to reduce the chances of visitors spreading the coronavirus.

See also  Brush Fire Causes Evacuation of Colorado Town

All contents © copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Topics

Subscribe to Our Monthly Newsletter

Stay in the loop with our wildland newsletter.

Crews work to repair downed electrical lines     YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, Calif. (AP) — Yosemite National Park will remain closed through the weekend after high winds that battered much of California knocked down two giant sequoias and caused millions of dollars in damage. The park hoped to reopen Tuesday except for areas south of […]

Get The Wildland Firefighter Newsletter

Related Articles

How Civil Is Your Station?

How Civil Is Your Station?

Years ago, I was at a national fire leadership meeting for the Forest Service. The fire organization was being accused of having a “hard shell” around it, and the non-fire administrators saw this as detrimental to our values as an organization. We were too tough they...

Forest Service Halts CA Prescribed Burns

Forest Service Halts CA Prescribed Burns

Jackson Guilfoil - Times-Standard, Eureka, Calif. Last Tuesday, the U.S. Forest Service halted all its prescribed burns in California right as the wet season was set to begin. Citing the need to keep as many staff members and firefighting equipment on hand in the...