Yosemite National Park Closed As Ferguson Fire Grows: How To Get Refunds

National Park Service officials announced Tuesday that portions of Yosemite Valley will be temporarily shut down as the Ferguson fire steadily threatened the western boundary of the facility and smoke from the wildfire enveloped the region.

In addition to Yosemite Valley, another major tourist destination – Wawona – will also close its doors. Visitors and employees inside these facilities were told to evacuate the area by Wednesday noon.

Scott Gediman, a park spokesman, said both Yosemite and Wawona are expected to reopen their gates for visitors again on the following Sunday or Monday, depending on the circumstances.

As officials were forced to cancel more than 1,000 reservations, they reassured visitors they will be eligible for refunds. However, certain rules have been laid in place for people who want to apply for refunds.

For example, spokeswoman Lisa Cesaro said if one has made reservations in the Majestic Yosemite Hotel (formerly the Ahwahnee Hotel), Yosemite Valley Lodge and Half Dome Village tent cabins on the days the park is scheduled to remain closed, they will get refunds.

But while people living in these hotels or tents, who are forced to move out by Wednesday will not be charged for the additional nights they booked till Sunday, they will not be liable to receive a compensation for their trip cut short, according to a Los Angeles Times report.

Refunds will also be provided to people who booked park activities like horseback rides and river rafting.

Also, the cancellation policy, which mandates visitors not be given back the deposit of a night’s lodging if you cancel less than seven days before your reservation, will not be relaxed for White Wolf Lodge, Tuolumne Meadows Lodge and the High Sierra Camp, located on the east side of the park, which remained open till Tuesday.

Visitors who made reservations for Yosemite campgrounds such as Lower Pines, Upper Pines, Hodgdon Meadow and Crane Flat and are concerned about air pollution in the area, may request for refunds by calling (888) 448-1474, Recreation.gov — the website in charge of making the reservations for these areas — said.

Around 3,000 firefighters, along with water trucks, bulldozers and water-dropping helicopters, were trying to battle the massive fire that has burned more 36,000 acres southwest of Yosemite since it started July 13 and steadily headed east, where the national park is located. Presently, the fire is 25 percent contained, fire information officer Rob Deyerberg said, LA Times reported.

One firefighter was killed and several suffered broken bones, back strains and smoke exhaustion during their battle with the growing fire.

“Smoke may be heavy at times,” the park said in a statement. Authorities also told visitors to “limit activity during the periods of poor air quality. Some facilities and services are closed or diminished.”

Gediman admitted economy of the region depended heavily on the money made off tourism in the summer months, when thousands of nature lovers and adventure seekers flock to the parks from all over the world. Nevertheless, the park’s decision was based on concerns for the safety of their visitors.

“We apologize to visitors. We understand the impacts on their trips. But this is about the health and safety of them and park employees,” Gediman said, Mercury News reported. “We understand this is a huge impact. We’re hoping to resume normal operations as soon as it is safe.”