The Dome Fire is an active wildfire burning in Yosemite National Park in Mariposa County, California. The fire was reported on September 15, 2026, near Chilnualna Falls, north of Wawona.
As of September 24, the fire had burned and was 15% contained. Two helicopter pilots were killed when a firefighting aircraft crashed while conducting water drops on the fire.
Fire progression
The Dome Fire was reported on the morning of September 15, 2026, approximately north of Chilnualna Falls in the southern portion of Yosemite National Park. By later that day, it had grown to approximately and was spreading north and northeast through brush and timber. Firefighters secured portions of the southern and western flanks, and there were no immediate threats to developed areas or infrastructure.
The fire expanded rapidly over the next two days in steep backcountry terrain. By September 17, it had reached . Gusty ridge winds carried embers ahead of the main fire, producing numerous spot fires to the north, including in the footprint of the 2017 Empire Fire. Ground crews constructed handline while helicopters made water drops along the flanks. By that evening, the fire was 10 percent contained.
By September 19, the fire had grown to and was 15 percent contained. It continued moving toward areas burned by the Empire and South Fork fires.
The fire reached on September 20, with continued spotting near Turner Meadow and Empire Meadows. Later that day, a contract firefighting helicopter conducting water-dropping operations crashed near Ostrander Lake, killing both pilots.
By September 21, the fire had grown to and remained 15 percent contained. Growth slowed over the following several days as crews strengthened containment lines. By September 23, it had reached , with most activity occurring on the north and northeast sides within the Empire Fire footprint.
Growth and containment +Fire containment status Gray: contained; Red: active; %: percent contained;DateTotal area burnedPersonnelContainmentSep 15...Sep 16...Sep 17376 personnelSep 18386 personnelSep 19497 personnelSep 20525 personnelSep 21581 personnelSep 22784 personnelSep 23840 personnelSep 24789 personnelSep 25781 personnelSep 26781 personnelSep 27781 personnelSep 28808 personnelSep 29796 personnelSep 30932 personnelOct 1775 personnelOct 2798 personnelOct 3765 personnel
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