Wildfire expands to 1,000+ acres in Yosemite National Park, moves toward Badger Pass

Joshua Tehee, The Fresno Bee on Sep 17, 2026

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FRESNO, Calif. — A wildfire in Yosemite National Park nearly quadrupled in size on Wednesday as it moves north toward Yosemite Valley and the Badger Pass ski area.

The Dome fire is burning at zero percent containment over 1,177 acres of backcountry at the southern entrance of Yosemite near Wawona in Mariposa County, but is causing “minimal impacts,” according to the National Park Service.

The fire started Tuesday near the Chilnualna Falls trailhead, a popular spot for tourist and hikers. The cause is under investigation.

That portion of the park, and the trail itself, are closed as smoke from the fire remains visible across the area.

“This fire has a pretty good run for terrain in front of it,” according to Jeff Aiello, posting updates on the Talk of the Hill Facebook group. It is currently moving to the north, enhanced by wind and the terrain. It’s an area that hasn’t seen wildfire in nearly a decade.

The Empire fire burned just over 8,000 acres over 161 days in 2017. Yosemite officials largely allowed that fire to burn a natural course, according to reporting in The Fresno Bee at the time.

By Aiello’s reading of the fire mapping, the head of the blaze is about three miles from the Badger Pass Ski Area and seven miles from Yosemite Valley. According to Aiello, the National Park Service has authorized the use of retardant, which was being administered by fixed-wing aircraft that were being tracked in the area Wednesday.

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