Fire restrictions issued for Yosemite National Park

FRESNO, Calif. (KABC) -- The United State Department of the Interior issued "Stage 1" fire restrictions for Yosemite National Park on Wednesday, limiting campfires, cooking fires and smoking in the park as hot and dry weather patterns increase the fire danger.

Officials said the restrictions will be posted around the park and areas, and will be monitored to ensure compliance.

The restrictions are as follows:

• No building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire, or cooking fire (including charcoal fires) within Yosemite Wilderness below 6,000 feed in elevation. "Sierra" (twig) stoves are not permitted. Portable stoves using pressurized gas, liquid fuel, or propane are permitted as are alcohol stoves (with and without a shutoff valve) including alcohol tablet/cube stoves.
• No smoking below 6,000 feet except within an enclosed vehicle, a building in which smoking is allowed, a campground, or picnic area where wood and charcoal fires are allowed or in a designated smoking area.
• Campfires and cooking fires may still be used in designated campgrounds in developed portions of the park in accordance with park regulations.Designated Campgrounds: Upper Pines, Lower Pines, North Pines, Yellow Pine, Camp 4, Wawona, Bridalveil Creek, Hodgdon Meadow, Crane Flat, Tamarack Flat, White Wolf, Yosemite Creek, Porcupine Flat, and Tuolumne Meadows.
• Cooking fires may still be used in designated picnic areas in developed portions of the park in accordance with park regulations.Designated Picnic Areas: Lembert Dome, Tenaya Lake, Yosemite Creek, Wawona, Mariposa Grove, Glacier Point, Cascade, El Capitan, Cathedral Beach, Sentinel Beach, Swing Bridge, Church Bowl, and Lower Yosemite Falls.
• There are no administrative exemptions to this order.

The designation will remain in place until rescinded.