Yosemite National Park investigators are asking people who visited the Chilnualna Falls Trail from September 9 to September 15 to come forward with any information.
Smoke from wildfires clouds Yosemite National Park (Photo: Getty Images)
Published September 25, 2026 01:33PM
Current Status: The Dome Fire has burned more than 4,200 acres in the southern portion of Yosemite National Park near the South Entrance and Mariposa Grove. CalFire reports it is 17 percent contained as of September 25.
Anyone with relevant information regarding potential campfires along Chilnualna Falls Trail can contact the National Park Service at 888-653-0009, submit a tip online, or email nps_isb@nps.gov.
National Park Service (NPS) rangers in Yosemite National Park are asking visitors to come forward with any information about what may have sparked the Dome Fire, which has burned more than 4,200 acres as of September 25.
Specifically, rangers are asking if anyone saw people burning a campfire near Chilnualna Falls Trail, which is where the Dome Fire first sparked.
“If you were on the Chilnualna Falls Trail recently, from September 9 to September 15. and witnessed anyone with a campfire, please notify the NPS,” the park wrote in a September 22 statement.
The fire started on September 15 and is burning in the southern part of the park near the south entrance and the sequoia-filled Mariposa Grove. As of this publishing date of this story, CalFire reports the fire is 17 percent contained.
Chilnualna Falls Trail is a steep 8.2-mile hike that climbs approximately 2,400 feet above the Wawona community. Park officials prohibited campfires along the entire trail starting on August 7, citing hot, dry, and windy weather.
As of this publishing date of this story, the cause of the fire remains unknown.
Researchers can sometimes identify where and how a fire started based on physical evidence like burn patterns, aerial imagery, or remnants found after the fire is suppressed, according to the Bureau of Land Management. Visitors who were on the Chilnualna Falls Trail can contact the NPS at 888-653-0009, submit a tip online, or email nps_isb@nps.gov.
Two Helicopter Firefighter Deaths
The Dome Fire has already caused tragedy within the community of firefighters battling the blaze. On September 20, firefighting pilots Greg King and Ryan Cutter were killed when their Super Puma helicopter crashed near Yosemite’s Ostrander Lake. At the time, the helicopter was using a water bucket to help suppress the flames.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating the crash, according to the Alaska Division of Forestry and Fire Protection.
“This is a devastating loss for our agency and the entire wildland firefighting community,” the agency wrote. “We are mourning both pilots who bravely supported firefighting efforts, and our hearts go out to their families.”
Yosemite officials wrote in a September 17 update that the fire continues to burn in steep, rugged wilderness area that is difficult to access. The park temporarily closed Glacier Point Road, including access to many of its trailheads, on September 23 because of poor visibility from smoke.
Impacts to Tourism
Kim Lawson, a spokesperson for the Yosemite Mariposa County Tourism Bureau, told Outside that many visitors are changing their plans to account for the wildfire.
“From what we are seeing firsthand, the fire has required some flexibility and itinerary adjustments, but it has not resulted in a broad disruption to the guiding operations we are currently working with,” Lawson said. Guides are continuing to monitor conditions and adjust plans as needed.”
Yosemite park authorities says human-caused fires are a recurring problem.
“Each year campfires, smoking, and human carelessness cause unwanted fires in Yosemite,” the park wrote in its fire-prevention guidelines.
In 2006, an uncontrolled campfire started the Boundary Fire, which burned more than 500 acres. In response, officials closed some of the most popular trails around El Capitan during peak tourist season.
Visitors should also be aware of the risks of wildfire sparks beyond campfires, Lawson said.
“Something as simple as dragging chains can create sparks and potentially start a wildfire, so we encourage visitors to check their vehicles and towing equipment before traveling,” she said.
Mariposa Grove in the southern part of Yosemite remains accessible, as do other areas, including Yosemite Valley and Tuolumne Meadows, Lawson added.
