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National Fire Plan Success Story

National Geographic Covers Mariposa Grove Prescribed Fire
Yosemite National Park, California
National Fire Plan - Rehabilitation

Picture of National Geographic staff on the fireline of the Mariposa Grove Prescribed Fire. National Geographic staff on the fireline of the Mariposa Grove Prescribed Fire. NPS Photo by Deb Schweizer.

Yosemite National Park received a unique opportunity to share important messages about the prescribed fire program in the park.

National Geographic was in the park during fall 2006 gathering footage of Yosemite National Park's various park management programs as part of their America's National Parks series. The program, Secret Yosemite aired in spring 2007.

One of the segments of Secret Yosemite covered the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoia Prescribed Fire. This was an excellent opportunity to show viewers of the role of fire in the giant sequoia ecosystem. Viewers learned that giant sequoias can benefit from periodic fires:

  • Giant sequoias use the heat from the fire to open the cones and scatter the seeds
  • Fire clears the ground of accumulated vegetation so that the seeds have a better chance to germinate
  • Fire clears the forest of competing young trees, particularly white fir, that create unnatural competition for water and nutrients

Viewers also learned:

  • How fire managers determine the prescription parameters for a prescribed fire project, such as acceptable range of temperature, relative humidity, and wind
  • That multiple steps are taken to protect firefighters, visitors, and residents
  • That Yosemite National Park is managing the park with the knowledge that fire has been and will continue to be one of the natural forces that shape the park

The success of the program can be measured by the incredible number of people that have contacted employees of Yosemite Fire to say that they saw the program. Additionally, many have indicated that they learned something about the fire program that they did not know. The airing of Secret Yosemite provided fire managers an avenue to reach a large audience and explain a little about the fire management program in the park.

Contact: Deb Schweizer, Fire Education Specialist
Phone: (209) 372-0480