Dome Fire Reaches 6,632 Acres in Yosemite, 40% Contained as of Oct. 3

The Dome Fire, burning in Yosemite National Park’s backcountry since mid-September, had grown to 6,632 acres and was 40% contained as of Oct. 3, 2026, according to the National Park Service and InciWeb, with 765 personnel assigned. The fire started the morning of Sept. 15 north of Wawona Dome, per CAL FIRE, and has spread through steep, remote terrain inside Yosemite Wilderness. When FireVerge first reported on it, on Sept. 26, it stood at 4,498 acres and 28% containment.

Where it’s burning

The fire is moving north and northeast through the footprint of the 2017 Empire Fire, an area thick with dead and downed trees from that earlier burn. According to NPS updates, those heavy fuels can throw embers well ahead of the main fire, creating spot fires, though higher humidity in recent days has made it harder for those embers to catch. Crews are building and reinforcing containment lines near Bridalveil Creek, Empire Meadows, and Horse Ridge, using exposed granite as a natural fuel break where possible.

Activity picked up on the northeast side in early October. NPS’s Oct. 2 update said activity near Bridalveil Creek intensified as winds gusted to 20 mph, requiring crews to attend to spot fires, and its Oct. 3 update said firefighters’ top priority is the northeast area, “where multiple spot fires occurred Thursday afternoon.” Part of the acreage added on Oct. 1 came from planned backfiring operations, which crews use to burn out fuel ahead of control lines.

Containment progress has been gradual

Date	Acres	Containment	Personnel
Sept. 23	3,795	15%	n/a
Sept. 25	4,258	17%	n/a
Sept. 26	4,498	28%	781
Sept. 29	5,392	34%	796
Oct. 2	6,159	40%	798
Oct. 3	6,632	40%	765

Figures as of Oct. 3, 2026, per NPS Dome Fire updates (morning figures through Oct. 2) and InciWeb (Oct. 3). NPS reported 40% containment on Oct. 1 as well; the fire has held at 40% since while acreage has kept growing along the northeast flank. Entries marked n/a were not reported in the updates FireVerge reviewed.

Pack mules from national forests have supplied crews in the roadless terrain, and infrared-equipped drones have monitored hotspots overnight, per NPS.

What caused it

The U.S. Forest Service has attributed the fire to an abandoned campfire, according to a Sept. 29 report by CBS News Sacramento, which also said there was no indication investigators had identified the person who left it. InciWeb still listed the cause as “Under Investigation” as of Oct. 3, and the NPS updates FireVerge reviewed do not state a cause, so treat the campfire finding as reported rather than confirmed on the incident page.

Impacts on the park

As of Sept. 26, NPS said Yosemite National Park remained open and operating normally and that no roads, buildings, or utilities faced immediate threat. As of Oct. 3, InciWeb lists these closures: Glacier Point Road (closed for firefighting operations and reduced visibility from smoke), the Chilnualna Falls Trail and connecting paths toward Buena Vista and Crescent Lakes, the Ostrander Trail and all areas south of it, and the Mono Meadow and Buena Vista Trails. On Oct. 1, NPS reported Yosemite Valley and El Portal air quality in the “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” range that morning, expected to improve to Moderate by afternoon. As of Sept. 26, Mariposa-Yosemite Airport was closed to general aviation, and crews were doing preventive brush clearing around homes in Wawona and Yosemite West, with no evacuation orders in place; FireVerge did not re-confirm those two items after that date.

What visitors and nearby residents should do

Anyone with travel plans to Yosemite this fall should check the park’s official fire updates before arriving, since road closures around Glacier Point can change day to day as smoke and containment lines shift. Air quality around the southern part of the park can also swing quickly with wind direction; the EPA’s AirNow Fire and Smoke Map is the best real-time source for current conditions. FireVerge’s wildfires section and active-fires map provide additional background on how large California wildfires like this one typically progress, though our incident data is a periodic snapshot rather than a live feed — always check NPS and InciWeb directly for the latest containment numbers before making travel decisions.