Dome Fire Update, September 29, 2026 (morning)

News Release Date: September 29, 2026

Current Situation

5,392 acres
34% containment
796 personnel

• The fire has grown 177 acres since yesterday morning and is now 34% contained. Containment is increasing.

• The fire's growth was slowed on Monday, in part due to cooler temperatures and higher relative humidity. Warmer and drier weather returns to the region through the remainder of the week.

• Crews were successful at tying in more of the fire perimeter to control lines along the north and northeast areas of the fire.

• Firefighters continue to improve indirect and contingency lines ahead of the fire.

• Pack mules have been utilized to backhaul some fire equipment as well as to bring in additional supplies and medical support.

• Replacement crews continue to arrive.

• This morning, some incident personnel will attend the procession for helicopter pilots Ryan Cutter and Greg King in Modesto.

Weather

Cool temperatures and higher humidity continue to help crews strengthen containment lines. Expect strong south to southwest winds with gusts reaching 25 mph through the weekend.

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 / Air Quality

Warmer and drier conditions today. Yosemite Valley and Wawona are expected to be MODERATE overall, with some periods of UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS in Wawona in the morning and overnight. Hodgdon Meadow, Tuolumne Meadows, Mariposa, and El Portal are expected to have GOOD air quality today, with El Portal having periods of MODERATE in the morning and afternoon.

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. Read More!Mule Video in Video Gallery

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. Read more.

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

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