Dome Fire Update, October 1, 2026 (morning)

News Release Date: October 1, 2026

Current Situation

Status

The fire grew 192 acres since yesterday morning, partly from planned backfiring operations. It is 40% contained.

• Firing operations continue near Glacier Point Road and the Bridalveil Creek Trail. Crews carefully burn dry brush and fallen trees. This adds some acres, but it builds stronger control lines and keeps firefighters safer.
• Chipping along Glacier Point Road turns brush into chips that are easier to handle and less likely to burn. It should be done in about two days.
• Two UAS (drones) with infrared sensors, one for day and one for night, find hot spots.
• No roads, buildings or utilities are under immediate threat.
• Crews rotate in and out to stay safe and effective, so personnel numbers change from day to day.
• California Incident Management Team (CAIMT) 4 is integrating with CAIMT 3 and will take command of the fire on October 2 at 7:00 AM. This standard change keeps the fire well managed and gives the outgoing team rest so it is ready for future incidents.

Weather and Fire Behavior

Skies were clear overnight. An inversion set in around 10:00 pm and should lift around 10:00 am. It acts like a lid on the fire and can trap smoke in Yosemite Valley. Temperatures are rising and humidity is dropping, but the fire is not lined up with the terrain in a way that would let it spread faster.

Park Closures

Yosemite National Park is open and operating normally, with the following exceptions:

• Glacier Point Road is closed due to reduced visibility from smoke and to safely allow firefighting operations. There are no imminent threats to infrastructure. The Four Mile Trail and Panorama Trail, providing access to Glacier Point, will remain open to hikers. Glacier Point Road will reopen when conditions allow. Backpackers already parked overnight at Glacier Point will be allowed to exit after the closure begins.
• 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 Ostrander Lake Trail and all areas and trails south of it are closed. The closed area extends east of the Wawona Road from Wawona to Chinquapin, as seen on the public information map.

Smoke Impacts and Air Quality

Air quality in Yosemite Valley and El Portal is in the UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS range this morning, but should improve this afternoon. Today, Wawona, Yosemite Valley, and El Portal will have mostly MODERATE air quality with periods of smoke in the morning and possibly again in the evening. Hodgdon Meadow, Tuolumne Meadows, and Mariposa are expected to have mostly GOOD air quality today with periods of MODERATE air quality. Skies will be hazy across the area.

View current Air Quality Monitoring at https://fire.airnow.gov/#7/38.532/-119.416

Getting Supplies by Mule

Several pack mules from the Shasta-Trinity National Fores, as well as from the Stanislaus National Forest t are being used to support firefighters on the Dome Fire. These intelligent, strong animals provide invaluable support. Using pack mules allows helicopters to do other work, such as bucket drops; and mules can also be used in smoky conditions where a helicopter would not have good visibility to deliver supplies to a remote site.

Managing Fire Impacts in Federal Wilderness

While it is widely understood that motorized equipment such as off-highway vehicles, dozers, or other mechanized equipment are not allowed in wilderness, this requirement is also largely true when fighting fires in wilderness. Chainsaws, small portable water pumps and similar equipment is often allowed to operate during active fires, but large, ground disturbing equipment is still prohibited. Firefighters use other methods, called Minimal Impact Suppression Tactics (MIST) when fighting fires in Wilderness areas.

Equipment Recovery and Backhaul

While firefighters make the final push towards containment of the fire, they must fulfill another extremely important task. Firefighters must be on the lookout for equipment in the field that is no longer needed by the crews that fought before them and recover and return items as activities continue to wind down.

The list of equipment that must be retrieved includes; hose, pump kits; generators; chainsaw kits; collapsible water tanks; and smaller items such as hose fittings and nozzles. To gather these items, firefighters will GPS the location of equipment and then crews are sent out to backhaul these items. Equipment must then be cleaned, repaired, and organized to be ready for the next incident.

Drones and Aviation Safety

A reminder: wildfires and drones don't mix. Unauthorized drones can force firefighting aircraft to stop flying, delaying suppression efforts and allowing fires to grow. If you fly, we can't. Help protect firefighters, communities, and our nation's landscapes by keeping your drone away from wildfires. Aviation resources "Own" the airspace around wildfires; the Temporary Flight Restriction for the Dome Fire is available at https://tfr.faa.gov/tfr3/?page=detail_6_4364 .

Tags: yfn , wildfire , wildland fire

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