Coffee Pot

Coffee Pot, Sequoia & Kings Canyon NP, NPS. Thirty-one miles northeast of Visalia, CA. Timber, grass and chaparral. Minimal fire behavior with creeping and smoldering. Communication infrastructure threatened. Area and trail closures in effect. Last report unless significant activity occurs.

September 21, 2024 at 9:26 AM

Firefighters will continue to monitor containment lines on all perimeters of the fire with special emphasis along Mineral King Road and the Horse Creek drainage area. Engines and firefighters will remain present in the Horse Creek / Mineral King Road area to ensure the fire remains within the current footprint and are able to respond to increase fire behavior, if needed. Suppression equipment continues to be backhauled from areas of the fire where no longer needed.

September 17, 2024 at 9:31 AM

As a low-pressure system approaches, higher relative humidity will continue to minimize fire activity. Wetting rain (0.10 inches or greater) is possible over the fire area. Crews will continue to monitor and mop-up all containment lines. Firefighters will strengthen the line in the Horse Creek area to keep the fire within the current footprint. Crews will continue brushing along the Mineral King Road in order to further strengthen contingency lines. Unneeded equipment will continue to be backhauled from areas of the fire as containment increases. Additional resources will be released in order to rest and become available for other incidents across the nation.

WEATHER: Potential for rainfall increases on Thursday. Temperatures will range from the mid-40s to upper- 50s with a relative humidity ranging from 70% to 90%. A large trough in place over the region will continue an unsettled weather pattern through Thursday resulting in cooler and wetter conditions. A gradual warming and drying trend will begin on Friday as a ridge builds over the west this weekend.

SMOKE IMPACTS: Tomorrow is the last forecast for smoke related to the Coffee Pot Fire. Haze around the fire will be visible during the day. Expect GOOD air quality with some hours of MODERATE in areas closest to the fire. For more information on current wildfire smoke impacts in your community, please visit AirNow.gov or fire.airnow.gov.

September 16, 2024 at 9:31 AM

A strong low pressure system is expected to move over the region on Monday with an unsettled weather pattern persisting through much of the week.

Planned actions

Continue to patrol and increase depth on mop-up on all containment lines. Keep the fire south of the East Fork of the Kaweah River. Strengthen retardant line on Horse Creek with hand line to keep the fire in the current footprint north of Horse Creek. Continue brushing on Mineral King Road while scouting ridgelines located east of the current fire perimeter. Work with READS/REAFS to mitigate hot spots within Sequoia Groves. Assess structures in the Mineral King and Silver City areas for structure defense. Continue suppression repair in areas approved by READS/REAFS.

September 15, 2024 at 10:21 AM

Southern Area Complex Incident Management Team Two assumed command of the Coffee Pot Fire at 7:00 a.m. this morning, Sunday, September 15th. Due to the current condition and successes on the ground, the incident is no longer being managed in unified command with CalFire.

Yesterday, firefighters continued to make progress in the northeastern section of the fire. Crews worked on the control line in the steep terrain on the north side of Horse Creek and continued to monitor and mop-up the lines from the East Fork Kaweah River to Scratch Creek. Crews around the remainder of the fire perimeter continued to hold and patrol the lines, backhaul unneeded equipment, and mop-up farther into the burned area. Crews also worked in the communities along Mineral King Road; chipping smaller materials, and removing snags and hazardous trees as a part of contingency planning. 

Today, firefighters will continue handline construction around Horse Creek and monitor the fire as it slowly consumes fuel inside the control lines. Aircraft will continue to support the work on the ground, dropping water to cool hot spots where needed. Crews will continue mop-up efforts; gridding for hot spots and cutting and piling debris to secure the line on the southern, western, and northwestern perimeter of the fire. Contingency work will also continue along Mineral King Road east to Silver City.

WEATHER: A strong low-pressure system will move over the region tomorrow. Ahead of that transition expect a slight decrease in temperature today, with colder conditions overnight. Tomorrow, cold weather will move into place, dropping temperatures well below normal for this time of year. There will be a slight chance of light precipitation (snow possible above 8,000 feet), but a better chance exists later in the week.

September 14, 2024 at 6:57 AM

Planned Actions

Continue to patrol and increase depth on mop-up on all containment lines. Keep the fire south of the East Fork of the Kaweah River. Construct direct lines to keep the fire in the current footprint north of Horse Creek. Scout and evaluate secondary strategic lines from the KNP Complex, including Mineral King Road and ridgelines located east of the current fire perimeter. Work with READS/ REAFS to mitigate hot spots within Sequoia Groves. Assess structures in the Mineral King and Silver City areas for structure defense. Continue suppression repair in areas approved by READS/ REAFS.

The majority of fire behavior is moderate with rollout, backing, and flanking in most areas. Conditions have been active at night with a strong and dry down drainage wind along the East Fork Kaweah River that continues to challenge containment lines. Afternoon winds will challenge containment lines along the eastern flank from Homers Nose to the junction between Horse Creek and East Fork Kaweah River, as well as the slopover across Horse Creek to the ridge above and east of it.

September 13, 2024 at 10:43 AM

Yesterday, construction of direct control line continued in the rugged terrain near the confluence of Horse Creek and the East Fork Kaweah River; helitankers dropped retardant to lower the fire’s intensity, while hotshot crews worked to build handline. The cooler temperatures and reduced winds helped to moderate fire behavior, with most of the remaining activity focused in the Eden Creek drainage with little threat to control lines. On the remainder of the fire perimeter crews continued to work on road rehabilitation, chipping, and mop-up operations.

Today, firefighters will continue direct control line construction in the northeast section of the fire. Aircraft will support their efforts with retardant drops as directed. Crews working around the remainder of the fire lines will continue to focus on mop-up and backhaul; removing hose, pumps, and other equipment that are no longer needed. Crews will work east along Mineral King Road toward Silver City reducing roadside vegetation and developing contingency lines.

WEATHER: The weather system that had previously impacted the area is now moving off to the northeast, while another system is approaching. As a result, temperatures will rebound slightly, similar to what was experienced on Wednesday, bringing near-normal conditions for this time of year. Expect slightly lower afternoon relative humidity levels, with winds and sunny conditions remaining consistent. Mixing heights are expected to increase, which will lead to better smoke dispersion across the region.

SMOKE IMPACTS: With moderate fire behavior, smoke impacts have reduced. GOOD air quality can be expected throughout the outlook area. Hammond will see MODERATE air quality conditions this morning, clearing to GOOD this afternoon. All other areas can expect GOOD air quality throughout the day, unless fire activity increases. For more information on current wildfire smoke impacts in your community, please visit AirNow.gov or fire.airnow.gov.

September 11, 2024 at 8:03 AM

The majority of fire behavior is moderate to active with rollout, backing, and flanking in most areas. There are slope aligned runs in mid to upper portions of the fire which have been generating embers and spot fires downwind up to a ¼-½ mile. Conditions have been active at night with a strong and dry down drainage wind along the East Fork Kaweah River that continues to challenge containment lines. As crews bring fire from Homers Nose to the north, down to tie into the junction between Horse Creek and East Fork Kaweah River, afternoon winds will challenge containment lines along this eastern flank due to exposure and interior torching trees that may spot downwind. Late afternoons see an uptick in activity with peak drying, afternoon winds, and fire spread especially along the East Fork Kaweah River, and potential still exists for spotting across the river and uphill runs impacting Mineral King Road.

Low pressure will move into the Pacific Northwest Wednesday morning and across northern Nevada by Wednesday afternoon. This will bring cooler temperatures with highs dropping about 3-5 degrees from Tuesday. This will put most areas in the upper 70s to lower 90s. Gusty west winds will also develop with sustained winds5-10 mph with gusts between 20-25 mph. Cooler temperatures will remain through the weekend along with decreasing winds and a slight increase in relative humidity. Another low pressure system will move into the region early next week bringing additional cooling along with a slight chance of precipitation.

September 10, 2024 at 10:44 AM

Tulare County Sheriffs’ Office has announced the evacuation warnings for the following areas TLC-E128-A, TLC-E093-A and TLC-E093-B, have been LIFTED. The area includes north of South Fork Drive, west of East Fork Kaweah River, east of Salt Creek Road and south of Craig Ranch Road. 

Evacuation ORDERS have been reduced to WARNINGS for the following areas: TLC-E094-B, TLC-E094-C, TLC-E094-D and TLC-E094-E. The area includes Case Mountain area, just north of Mineral King Road, east of Oak Grove and west of the Park Boundary line. Due to fire conditions in the area, there will be road closures along Mineral King Road, between Oak Grove and the National Park Boundary. For public safety reasons, the access through Mineral King Road may be limited by fire activity, and there may be significant time delays. This will be in effect until further notice and can change at any time. 

CURRENT SITUATION: Yesterday, with warm temperatures and low humidity, a small portion of the fire crossed the control line east of Eden Creek Grove. Air operations quickly responded with targeted water drops to suppress the breach, while hotshot crews promptly built direct control lines around the area. Along Horse Creek, additional retardant was applied, and during the night shift, drones conducted controlled burns to reduce fuel, ensuring a low-intensity, slow-moving fire within control lines. Air operations flew the southern and western flanks, reporting minimal heat, while crews backhauled equipment and continued road rehabilitation efforts.

Today, crews will focus on strengthening handlines from Horse Creek to the East Fork Kaweah River. Hotshots will reinforce control lines around areas where the fire crossed the containment lines, with air operations providing water suppression and retardant support as needed. Firefighters will extend mop-up efforts deeper into the burned areas along the southern and western flanks while crews continue hazardous tree removal and road rehabilitation.

WEATHER: High pressure will maintain hot and dry conditions for another day before a cooling trend begins mid-week. Winds will shift to an up-canyon flow by mid-morning, gradually strengthening throughout the afternoon. Expect sunny skies in the morning, with some cloud cover in the afternoon that could limit peak temperatures. By evening, winds will shift to a downcanyon flow, bringing cooler air into the area.

SMOKE IMPACTS: Increased smoke can be expected from fire activity in the Eden Creek area. Owens Valley may see MODERATE conditions this afternoon. Areas closest to the fire; Three Rivers, Hammond, and Giant Forest will continue to see overall MODERATE conditions this morning, with clearing in the late afternoon as the plume lifts, then smoke settling back down in these areas overnight. For more information on current wildfire smoke impacts in your community, please visit AirNow.gov or fire.airnow.gov.

EVACUATION NOTICES:  The Tulare County Fire Department has issued Evacuation WARNINGS for zones TLC-E094-B, TLC-E094-C, TLC-E094-D, TLC-E094-E, and TLC-E095. To find your zone, please refer to: protect.genasys.com

FIRE INFORMATION: A Public Information Officer will be at the Three Rivers Village Market daily from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. to provide fire information and answer questions. 

BLM AND PARK CLOSURES: The portion of South Fork Drive within Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks and trails accessed from the road, including the Ladybug and Garfield Grove Trails, are closed. Recreational access to the Mineral King area of Sequoia National Park is closed to the public. This applies to Mineral King campgrounds, trailheads, and area trails. All other areas of the parks are open but are likely to be impacted by varying levels of smoke and poor air quality. Park closure information is available online at nps.gov/seki. The Bureau of Land Management has also issued a closure of the Case Mountain Extensive Recreation Management Area at blm.gov/press-release.

September 9, 2024 at 10:01 AM

Fire activity was limited overnight, with mostly creeping. No significant events.

The majority of fire behavior is moderate to active with rollout, backing, and flanking in most areas. There are slope aligned runs in mid to upper portions of the fire which have been generating embers and spot fires downwind up to a ¼-½ mile. Conditions have been active at night with a strong and dry down drainage wind along the East Fork Kaweah River that continues to challenge containment lines. Late afternoons see an uptick in activity with peak drying, afternoon winds, and fire spread especially along the East Fork Kaweah River and we have been seeing spotting across the river with uphill runs impacting the Mineral King Road.

September 8, 2024 at 12:16 PM

The Tulare County Fire Department has announced that the evacuation warnings for the following areas, TLC-E-127B and TLC-E-128B, have been lifted effective Saturday, September 7th, 2024. The area includes north of South Fork Drive, East of Skyline Drive (Salt Creek, fire control road), South of Skyline Drive (South of Case Mountain and Homers Nose), and West of the National Park Boundary. 

FIRE INFORMATION: A Public Information Officer will be at the Three Rivers Village Market daily from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. to provide fire information and answer questions.  

CURRENT SITUATION: Yesterday, helitankers continued retardant drops from Horse Creek to the East Fork Kaweah River. In the Southeast, crews systematically gridded the area, searching for hotspots, and mop-up operations and equipment backhaul continued along the southern flank. Firefighters advanced deeper into the area south of Salt Creek Ridge, where air operations supported their efforts with water drops on hot spots. In the north, crews continue to prep Mineral King including water tenders applying retardant on the north side of the road. Firefighters continued to patrol and mop-up any areas where the fire breached control lines last week on the fire’s western flank. 

Today, firefighters will patrol, strengthen, and mop-up the handline east of Scratch Creek. Crews will work to enhance indirect handlines from Horse Creek to the East Fork Kaweah River as the fire moves closer to control lines. Air operations will provide targeted water drops to support crews spiked near Eden Creek. Road preparation efforts continue along Mineral King Road, heading east toward Silver City. Additional air support, using bucket drops, will help slow the fire’s progression and reduce its intensity as it backs into the East Fork Kaweah River and Horse Creek. On the western flank, crews will focus on backhauling equipment and mitigating hazardous trees. 

WEATHER: A weak area of low pressure is moving into northern California, which will cause slightly cooler temperatures. However, the weather will stay dry. Winds will generally come from the southwest, but upslope and up-canyon winds are expected to start mid-morning. 

SMOKE IMPACTS: Expect similar smoke impacts today in areas closest to the fire. Hammond and Three Rivers will remain in the MODERATE air quality range throughout the day. Giant Forest will experience MODERATE air quality by mid-day, with clearing to GOOD air quality by late afternoon. Areas farther north and east will stay in the GOOD air quality range. Pinehurst and Springville will continue to see MODERATE conditions. For more information on current wildfire smoke impacts in your community, please visit AirNow.gov or fire.airnow.gov. 

September 6, 2024 at 8:10 AM

The majority of fire behavior is moderate to active with rollout, backing, flanking in most areas. There are slope aligned runs in mid to upper portions of the fire which have been generating embers and spotfires downwind up to a ¼-½ mile. Conditions have been active at night with a strong and dry down drainage wind along the East Fork Kaweah River that continues to challenge containment lines. Late afternoons see an uptick in activity with peak drying, afternoon winds, and fire spread especially along the East Fork Kaweah River and we’ve been seeing spotting across the river with uphill runs impacting the Mineral King road.

Planned Actions:

Secure and mop up spot fire near Case Mountain and Coffee Pot Canyon. Secure slop over near Mineral King Rd. and Lookout Point. Secure, mop up, and patrol spot fire north of Mineral King Rd above the Lookout Point with direct handline. Perform firing operations as appropriate, and conditions allow to keep the fire south of the East Fork of the Kaweah River. Monitor the East Fork of the Kaweah River as fire back down. Scout opportunities for direct and indirect lines to keep the fire in the current footprint. Scout and evaluate secondary strategic lines from the KNP Complex, including Milk Ranch Road. Hold and improve the handline on the fire’s east side from South Fork Rd into Scratch Creek. Improve the handline north from Homers Nose into Horse Creek. Assess and prep structures for structure defense. Improve and repair road systems to access the fire. Heavy equipment will be used to construct the secondary strategic lines and keep the road open to access the fire. Begin suppression repair in areas approved by READS/ REAFS.

Heating trend in place this week with an increase in fire activity along the northern portions of the Fire. Continued consumption of fuels in Sequoia Groves within and around in the Case Mountain and upper Eden Creek drainage. Fire will continue to back down towards the East Fork Kaweah River to the south of Mineral King Road. The slop over in the NW corner has been tied off with containment lines, so anticipating a reduced threat of spread to the west towards values at risk with each day fuels consume. Anticipate continued movement to the East with any slope and wind alignment on granite patches north of Homers Nose, threatening movement into the unnamed Creek and Cahoon Creek to the east. The fire is generally spreading in an East/Northeast direction.

September 5, 2024 at 7:46 AM

Fire continued to back and creep through the night. The majority of fire behavior is moderate to active with rollout, backing, flanking in most areas. There are slope aligned runs in mid to upper portions of the fire which have been generating embers and spotfires downwind up to a ¼-½ mile. Conditions have been active at night with a strong and dry down drainage wind along the East Fork Kaweah River that continues to challenge containment lines. Late afternoons see an uptick in activity with peak drying, afternoon winds, and fire spread especially along the East Fork Kaweah River and we have been seeing spotting across the river with uphill runs impacting the Mineral King road. 

Planned actions:

Secure and mop up spot fire near Case Mountain and Coffee Pot Canyon. Secure slop over near Mineral King Rd. and Lookout Point. Secure, mop up, and patrol spot fire north of Mineral King Rd above the Lookout Point. Perform firing operations as appropriate, and conditions allow to keep the fire south of the East Fork of the Keweah River. Monitor the East Fork of the Kaweah River as fire back down. Scout opportunities for direct and indirect lines to keep the fire in the current footprint. Scout and evaluate secondary strategic lines from the KNP Complex, including Milk Ranch Road. Hold and improve the handline on the fire’s east side from S. Fork Rd into Sctracth Creek. Improve the handline north from Hormers Nose into Horse Creek. Assess and prep structures for structure defense. Improve and repair road systems to access the fire. Heavy equipment will be used to construct the secondary strategic lines and keep the road open to access the fire.

Heating trend in place this week with an increase in fire activity along the northern portions of the Fire. Continued consumption of fuels in Sequoia Groves within and around in the Case Mountain and upper Eden Creek drainage. Fire will continue to back down towards the East Fork Kaweah River to the south of Mineral King Road. The slopover in the NW corner of the fire will continue to challenge containment efforts due to steep terrain, dense vegetation, and seasonally dried fuels. Anticipate continued movement to the East with any slope and wind alignment on granite patches north of Homers Nose, threatening movement into the unnamed Creek and Cahoon Creek to the east. The fire is generally spreading in an East/Northeast direction.

September 4, 2024 at 8:09 AM

The majority of fire behavior is moderate to active with rollout, backing, flanking in most areas. There are slope aligned runs in mid to upper portions of the fire which have been generating embers and spotfires downwind up to a ¼-½ mile. Conditions have been active at night with a strong and dry down drainage wind along the East Fork Kaweah River that continues to challenge containment lines. At the time of this report, there is a notable increase of fire activity to the north with significant spotting

Planned Actions

Secure and mop up spot fire near Case Mountain and Coffee Pot Canyon. Perform firing operations as appropriate and conditions allow. Monitor the East Fork of the Kaweah River as fire back down. Scout opportunities for direct and indirect lines to keep the fire in the current footprint. Scout and evaluate secondary strategic lines from the KNP Complex, including Milk Ranch Road. Assess and prep structures for structure defense. Improve road systems to gain access to the fire. Mop up to secure the fire’s edge. Heavy equipment will be used to construct the secondary strategic lines and keep the road open to access the fire.

Heating trend this week will see an increase in fire activity along the northern portions of the Fire. Continued consumption of fuels in Sequoia Groves within and around in the Case Mountain and upper Eden Creek drainage. Fire will continue to back down towards the East Fork Kaweah River to the south of Mineral King Road. East Fork Kaweah River may hold fire spread in some areas, but do anticipate fire crossing the River and making slope aligned runs up towards Mineral King road. The slopover in the NW corner of the fire will continue to challenge containment efforts due to steep terrain, dense vegetation, and seasonally dried fuels. Fuels will be lighter as they are within the KNP Complex fire scar, but may be numerous and a challenge for ground resources. Anticipate continued movement to the East with any slope and wind alignment on granite patches north of Homers Nose, threatening movement into the unnamed Creek and Cahoon Creek to the east.

September 3, 2024 at 7:18 AM

The fire remained fairly active in the higher elevations overnight while moderating in the lower. No significant events overnight. The majority of fire behavior is moderate to active with rollout, backing, flanking in most areas. There are slope aligned runs in mid to upper portions of the fire which have been generating embers and spotfires downwind up to a ¼-½ mile. Conditions have been active at night with a strong and dry down drainage wind along the East Fork Kaweah River that continues to challenge containment lines.

September 2, 2024 at 8:16 PM

Northwest of Case Mountain, firefighters identified a spot fire and worked directly to contain its spread. Firefighters also worked to slow the rate of spread along constructed control lines northeast of Case Mountain, using low-intensity firing operations, fire retardant, and aircraft water-drops as the fire reached the East Fork Kaweah River. Crews continued to brush and chip along Mineral King Road and to the east, the Fire Use Modules worked to construct indirect control lines moving north toward Horse Creek and Mineral King Road. Also on the east flank, firefighters constructed direct control lines around a spot fire outside the Eden Creek Grove of giant sequoias. To the south, mop up activities are continuing along the South Fork Kaweah River containment line. Crews on the western flank worked to construct direct control lines around a spot fire south of the Monache Tub Grove of giant sequoias, supported by aircraft water-drops. 

EVACUATION NOTICES: The Tulare County Sheriff’s Office has issued two new Evacuation ORDERS due to current fire conditions for Genasys zones TLC-E094-C and TLC-E094-E. Zone TLC-E094-C: West of the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park boundary, north of the East Fork Kaweah River, and east of Oak Grove. Zone TLC-094-E: The Mineral King Road area, south of River Hill, east of Case Mountain, and west of Mitchell Ranch, including the Oak Grove community. Evacuation ORDERS remain in effect for zones TLC-E094-D and TLC-E094-B.  

September 2, 2024 at 12:00 PM

Fire is burning in a wide range of fuel types due to over 6,000 feet of elevation gain from the bottom to the upper portions of the fire areas. Fuels include timber model (TU5) with heavy understory and some small pockets of timber litter. Fuels transition from timber with bug kill and dead and down into overhead brush at elevations below 5,000 feet. Fuels transition again to oak woodland with scattered scrub oak and grass understory at the lower elevations. 1,000-hour fuels are available to burn with fuel moisture measured between 4%-10% depending on aspect and elevation. Live fuel moisture in Manzanita was measured at 100% at upper elevations and 90% at the lower elevations. Chamise samples on the lowest elevations have been sampled at 66%. 

Overnight, on the north side of the fire, a large spot over the line (approx. 50 acres) burned actively. The majority of fire behavior is moderate to active with rollout, backing, flanking in most areas. There are slope aligned runs in mid to upper portions of the fire which have been generating embers and spotfires downwind up to a 1/4-1/2 mile. Areas above the inversion do stay active well into the night, with lower portions slowing down with a lack of wind and clear air. 

A public meeting about the Coffee Pot Fire will be held on Tuesday, September 3, at 6:00 PM at the Three Rivers Memorial Building: 43490 Sierra Drive, Three Rivers. Those unable to attend can watch the meeting live on the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Facebook page @SequoiaKingsNPS or YouTube channel @sequoiaandkingscanyonnps5018. 

The Tulare County Sheriff’s Office has issued an Evacuation WARNING for zone TLC-E095, the area along Mineral King Road that includes the communities of Cabin Cove, Silver City, and Mineral King. This WARNING has been issued due to potential impacts to Mineral King Road. Road impacts can consist of delays, closures, and pilot vehicle operations occurring any time due to fire conditions. Should fire impact the roadway, a road closure up to 48 hours or more could lead to an ORDER or a possible shelter in place ORDER. Please plan accordingly if you have medical concerns or needs. Note: this WARNING is due to Mineral King roadway impact conditions; the fire is NOT currently an immediate threat to communities.  

Recreational access to the Mineral King area of Sequoia National Park remains CLOSED to the public. This applies to Mineral King campgrounds, trailheads, and area trails. All other areas of the parks will remain open through the holiday weekend but are likely to be impacted by varying levels of smoke and poor air quality. For detailed zone and area descriptions, visit: protect.genasys.com. 

CURRENT SITUATION: As weather became hotter and drier yesterday, crews worked to hold the gains made throughout the week. Firefighters prioritized the northern flank using aircraft water-drops to slow fire progression, as it backed down toward the East Fork Kaweah River. Near Case Mountain, strategic firing operations using low-intensity back burning were conducted to slow the rate of fire spread. Crews monitored fire backing through the Nutmeg Grove of giant Sequoias. On the eastern flank, Fire Use Modules continued working to construct indirect control lines to join Horse Creek and Mineral King Road. To the south, hand crews constructed direct control lines to contain the fire that spread just over Scratch Creek, and firefighters achieved near complete containment along the South Fork Kaweah River. On the western flank, firefighters worked to hold direct control lines and contain fire spotting near Salt Creek Road.  

Today, crews are continuing to prioritize the northern flank of the fire. North and east of Case Mountain, firefighters will use low-intensity firing operations and water-drops from aircraft to slow the rate of overall spread as the fire backs toward the East Fork Kaweah River. Crews will work to improve roads near Cinnamon Gap and will continue to construct indirect control lines along Mineral King Road. To the east, the Fire Use Modules are constructing indirect control lines moving north toward Horse Creek and Mineral King Road. Strategic firing operations with low intensity burning will be used in the Eden Creek Grove of giant sequoias. In the southeast, crews are holding control lines along Cedar Ridge, and are monitoring the spot fire that was controlled just beyond Scratch Creek. To the south, mop up activities are beginning along the South Fork Kaweah River containment line. 

EVACUATION NOTICES: A NEW Evacuation ORDER has been issued for zone TLC-E094-D. A NEW Evacuation WARNING has been issued for zone TLC-E095. Evacuation ORDERS remain in effect for zone TLC-E094-B and TLC-E128-B. Evacuation WARNINGS remain in effect for zones TLC-E128-A and TLC-E127-B. For current evacuations and to find your zone, go to: http://protect.genasys.com/ 

WEATHER: High pressure remains over the area bringing warm and dry weather with sunny skies. Haze and smoke will be concentrated, especially at night and the early morning, bringing locally poor visibility. Temperatures will change little. Winds will be diurnal and terrain-driven today and into tonight. General winds will be out of the northeast in the early morning, out of the southwest by mid-morning, and gusting over ridges in the afternoon. Sheltered areas will see upslope winds predominate. Weather tomorrow will be slightly cooler with marginally higher humidity. 

SMOKE IMPACTS: The biggest smoke impacts will be between Three Rivers and Ash Mountain, with levels likely reaching VERY UNHEALTHY this morning before recovering this afternoon. Levels in Springville will follow a similar trend but will likely top out at UNHEALTHY. The East Fork Kaweah River drainage is expected to reach VERY UNHEALTHY levels in the afternoon, improving slightly in the evening and dropping to MODERATE overnight. Pinehurst and The Giant Forest Village will likely see UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS to UNHEALTHY levels during the afternoon. Smoke from the fire will likely impact areas to the north, bringing levels up to MODERATE along the Sierra foothills, through Grant Grove and into Mammoth. For more information on current wildfire smoke impacts in your community, please visit AirNow.gov or fire.airnow.gov. 

FIRE INFORMATION: Fire information will not be posted on Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Facebook or Instagram pages today and tomorrow. Fire information will be available on inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/caknp-coffee-pot-fire and videos will continue to be posted on the park’s YouTube channel at @sequoiaandkingscanyonnps5018. A Public Information Officer will be at the Three Rivers Village Market daily from 10:30 AM to 4:00 PM to provide fire information and answer questions.  

BLM AND PARK CLOSURES: The portion of South Fork Drive within Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks and trails accessed from the road, including the Ladybug and Garfield Grove Trails, are closed. Park closure information is available online at nps.gov/seki. The Bureau of Land Management has also issued a closure of the Case Mountain Extensive Recreation Management Area at blm.gov/press-release.  

PUBLIC NOTICE: Wildfires are a no-fly zone for unauthorized aircraft, including drones. If you fly, we can’t. For more information, visit knowbeforeyoufly.org.