Yosemite fire sending smoke into Valley

A new fire burning southwest of Yosemite National Park is sending drift smoke into Carson Valley this morning reducing air quality along the Sierra.

While officially listed at 250 acres as of 10:40 a.m. Friday, satellite fire mapping of the Washburn Fire indicates hotspots across nearly 1,000 acres. There is no report of containment.

Fire.airnow.gov is showing air quality in Minden is just barely in the moderate range as a haze hovers along the Carson Range.

Burning in mixed timber with significant amounts of dead and downed trees, the fire was reported 2:04 p.m. Thursday by multiple 911 callers that smoke was visible from the Mariposa Grove area.

Mariposa Grove has been evacuated and is temporarily closed.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

The 4,500-acre Electra Fire burning just south of Jackson was reported to be 65 percent contained as of Friday morning.

Forecasters are predicting west winds will help clear the smoke out this afternoon but is likely to increase again in the morning.