Yosemite wildfire explodes, reaching over 1,000 acres near Wawona

A wildfire in a remote area of Yosemite National Park has exploded in size, reaching 1,177 acres on Wednesday evening, according to the National Park Service. The Dome Fire was first reported near Wawona in Yosemite National Park on Tuesday. 

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On Wednesday, the fire jumped in size from 300 acres at around 7 a.m. to over 1,000 acres by 2 p.m. The fire is burning in a remote area north of the Wawona Dome and within a quarter mile of the iconic Chilnualna Falls.

The Park Service said the fire had a moderate spread moving to the north and northeast in an update issued Wednesday evening.

“Firefighters have been utilizing natural barriers, and line has been secured on the south and west sides of the fire. The fire is deep in the wilderness and difficult to access due to steep, rugged terrain,” the Park Service reported in the update on Inciweb.

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Due to the fire, the Chilnualna Falls Trail has been closed, as well as trails at the top of Chilnualna Falls linked to Buena Vista and Crescent lakes. Smoke from the fire was visible on Highway 41 through the park on Wednesday. The Dome Fire has no containment and its cause remains under investigation. 

The fire is burning within a few miles of Wawona, which is home to the Yosemite History Center, many cabins and the iconic Wawona Hotel. The hotel has been closed since 2024. The nearby Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias was threatened by wildfire in 2022 when the Washburn Fire ignited nearby. Ultimately, more than 1,700 firefighting personnel responded and kept the flames from damaging the endangered trees.