Washburn Fire

The Washburn Fire was reported in the afternoon of July 7, 2022, near the Washburn Trail in the Mariposa Grove area of Yosemite National Park. Approximately 450 visitors were evacuated before tanker airplanes were cleared to drop wildfire retardant in the area of the grove. On July 13, the fire expanded into the Sierra National Forest, traveling up the Merced River drainage and away from Mariposa Grove. On that day, the White House assistant press secretary stated that "We are closely monitoring the Yosemite wildfire, and the President has been briefed." By July 18, almost 1,600 firefighters were assigned to the fire with an estimated cost of fighting the fire up to that point estimated at $16.3 million. ==Effects==

Closures The Mariposa Grove and South Entrance to Yosemite National Park, along Highway 41, were closed. A mandatory evacuation order was given for the Wawona area, including the historic Wawona Hotel. The Mariposa Grove reopened to the public on August 3, 2022. Environmental The Washburn Fire threatened the giant sequoias of Mariposa Grove, which has some of the world's largest and most visited trees, including the Grizzly Giant. On July 9, fire crews acted to protect the trees, spraying the trees with hoses. Protective, fire-resistant material was also wrapped around the trunks. Additional preventative measures were taken on July 11, including a fire sprinkler system to increase relative humidity around the Grizzly Giant and the wrapping of the historic Galen Clark cabin. Fire preparation measures, including fuel reduction over the past 50 years and the restoration of hydrology during the Mariposa Grove Restoration Project, have been effective in preventing permanent damage to sequoias exposed to the fire, which include the Galen Clark Tree. ==Growth and containment==