KNP Complex, Kings Canyon

KNP Complex (2 fires), Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, NPS. Nine miles northeast of Three Rivers, CA. Short grass, brush and timber. Minimal fire behavior with creeping and smoldering. Several communities, numerous structures and Infrastructure threatened. Area, road and trail closures in effect.

November 2, 2021 at 8:15 AM

This will be the LAST update from California Interagency Incident Management Team 12 (CIIMT 12). The KNP Complex is transitioning at 6:00 p.m. this evening to the National Park Service Type 3 Team and the US Forest Service Type 4 Team. 

On behalf of CIIMT 12, outgoing Incident Commander Mike Nobles wishes to express his sincere gratitude for the continued support and patience from the surrounding communities and visitors from around the world. Today, Nobles gave a final message to firefighters assigned to the KNP Complex saying, “No greater love hath no one this that a firefighter lay down their lives to protect and serve the communities and our precious national resources”.  

The incoming teams will continue to work together to ensure remaining suppression repair work is completed along with hazard tree mitigation.  The following suppression repair work has been completed as of this morning: 56 miles of dozer line with 14 miles still in progress, 15 miles of handline with 4 miles still in progress. 

Firefighters remaining on the fire will continue with mop up operations where it is safe and practical to do so. Chipping work has been completed in the Silver City community and is ongoing for Mineral King. The fire has a low potential for spread as interior pockets of vegetation and heavy, downed logs are consumed. Hazard tree mitigation along roads is ongoing to provide for firefighter and public safety. 

Please note the change below to the contact information for the public information phone number and email address. For the NPS and USFS social media accounts and the InciWeb page, updates will be made as notable activity occurs.  Please continue to monitor these sites for information moving forward. The YouTube channel will remain available to view previous videos but no new information will be provided. 

Weather: Today’s forecast calls for partly cloudy skies but should clear up moving into the afternoon. Temperatures should be couple degrees warmer than yesterday with light winds. 

Closures: The NPS and USFS has closures in place. Please visit the respective website for each agency for the most up-to-date information. 

November 1, 2021 at 8:14 AM

On Tuesday, November 2, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. command of the KNP Complex will transition from the California Interagency Incident Management Team 12 (CIIMT 12), Type 2 team back to the host units. A FINAL operation briefing video for the KNP Complex will be provided this evening on Facebook and YouTube. 

The fire will be managed based on land jurisdiction between the National Park Service and US Forest Service. However, both agencies will work together to utilize resources where it makes the most operational sense to successfully meet objectives and keep crews safe. All personnel from the incoming teams will be integrated into the current operations to get a clear picture of actions being taken on the ground and ask clarifying questions.   This process is extremely important to a successful transition where firefighters continue to meet objectives safely. 

No growth has occurred on the fire and crews are continuing with suppression repair operations. Heavy equipment such as a dozer, excavators, and skids are working to repair contingency lines on Logger Point to level out the landscape and pile debris removed during suppression activities. Firefighters are patrolling the perimeter where it is accessible and safe to do so. Aviation resources are available to assist crews on the ground and perform reconnaissance flights as weather conditions allow.

Approximately 100 resources have been released from the fire as work is completed and the incident is right sized to an appropriate size for the incoming Type 3 and Type 4 Teams. 

Weather:  Temperatures will be similar to yesterday with light winds and partly cloudy skies. An isolated afternoon or evening shower is possible but little, if any, moisture over the fire is expected and should not have any impact on the current fire behavior. 

Safety: Crews and heavy equipment are working across the fire area to clear debris from the roads. Please be aware of and respect closures, slow down and turn headlights on for safety. 

October 31, 2021 at 9:14 AM

A Sequoia Protection group is in place along the northwest portion of the fire. Firefighters assigned to this group are working closely with local resource advisors to identify hazardous cedar and fir trees to mark them for removal. Part of the criteria for hazard tree removal includes standing dead trees that will impact the road, parking areas, and pullouts. Fallers are mitigating these hazards over the next few days to provide safe access for visitors once they are allowed to enter the area.

Suppression repair work across the fire area is focusing on preventing further damage to the land and provide erosion control. This is done by constructing water bars and covering both handline and dozer line with vegetation. Crews are patrolling the fire perimeter where it is safe to do so, checking for any remaining heat, and holding containment lines. With the completion of both suppression and suppression repair work, firefighters are backhauling equipment from the field that is no longer needed. Heavy equipment, chippers, and crews are being reassigned to other areas of the fire as work is completed. Chipping operations along the Mineral King Road are ongoing. Coordination is taking place daily with local resource advisors to prioritize groves and provide for the highest possibility of success.

As objectives are met across the fire area, the Incident Management Team is releasing resources and right sizing the organization. This is in preparation for the transition from a Type 2 Incident Management Team to a smaller, local Type 3 Organization on the evening of Tuesday, November 2, 2021.

Weather:  Cooler weather and precipitation has moderated fire behavior. Patchy fog is a possibility in the lower elevations this morning and should dissipate by 10:00 a.m. Today is predicted be two to four degrees cooler than yesterday with partly cloudy skies and light winds.

Safety: Crews and heavy equipment are working across the fire area to clear debris from the roads. Please be aware of and respect closures, slow down and turn headlights on for safety.

October 28, 2021 at 8:44 AM

Firefighters on the KNP Complex were able to get back out in areas of the fire perimeter as safety permitted. A fixed-wing aircraft (airplane) surveyed the entire fire area, taking video as well as infrared footage. The flight showed the fire had grown slightly in the northeast area and is moving toward the granite barrier which runs near Kettle Peak, Twin Peaks and Mount Silliman. This granite barrier should halt the fire’s progress and firefighters are monitoring the fire’s activity. The flight also showed fire activity near Atwell Grove. Crews are working to clear mud and debris from Mineral King Road to allow firefighters back into this area as soon as possible. They will then work ensure the fire is not a threat to any Giant Sequoias. Much of the fire has not shown any growth and is staying within established containment lines. Road maintenance crews from Kings Canyon National Park have cleared General’s Highway from the Big Stump area to Ash Mountain. This area is open to administrative staff and emergency traffic only. Road crews will continue working to clear General’s Highway and Mineral King Road toward the Silver City area to allow crews access.

Suppression repair work is continuing in areas where crews have access and can operate safely. While the rain has greatly increased the dead fuel moisture in the 1, 10 and 100-hour fuels, the rain has had very little impact on the 1,000-hour fuels. Dead fuel moisture is the moisture content of dead organic fuels, which is controlled entirely by exposure to environmental conditions. A 1,000-hour fuel is any vegetation or combustible material ranging from 3-6 (or more) inches in diameter. Fire behavior in most areas of the KNP Complex will be minimal, however, there will still be areas of heavy, dead fuels that have been sheltered from precipitation, by leaf canopy or other barriers, or that are burning on the inside. These fuels will continue to give off heat. Smoldering and fire activity is expected to increase as conditions become warmer and drier.

Weather: High pressure will bring further warming and drying through the end of the week with light terrain driven winds. A weak disturbance will move in over northern California this weekend bringing a little cooling and a slight increase in humidity and winds.

October 27, 2021 at 8:11 AM

Firefighters are slowly getting back out on the KNP Complex following the inclement weather. Today division Supervisors began to assess each division around the fire’s perimeter to determine whether it was safe enough to redeploy firefighters. Crews were able to access the lower elevations near Ash Mountain to continue suppression repair work. A small mudslide was discovered on Mineral King Road, roughly 1-2 miles from the park’s entrance. Before the containment percentage can be increased, crews need to assess the fire’s edge.

While the rain received on the fire has greatly increased the fuel moisture, the fire is still not “out.” Rain alone is not enough to completely extinguish a wildfire, for the same reason that aerial firefighting, known as “air drops” or “bucket drops” generally cannot stop a wildfire alone. Rain duration is just as important as the amount. An excessive amount of rain, over a short period of time, will run off before the large fuels have had enough time to absorb it. If heavy fuels, such as large logs, cannot absorb enough rain to penetrate the deep layers, it will not eliminate the heat within the fuel. Similarly, if the moisture runs down-hill before the soil can absorb it, any roots or organic material beneath the surface will continue to smolder. This runoff also can result in mudslides and debris flows. Heavy fuels burned by wildfires can smolder for as long as a year or more after the fire has been declared “contained.” Nevertheless, by wetting down the fuels, even slightly, it can slow a fire’s progress very effectively and give firefighters the time they need to contain the fire and mop it up before the next dry spell.

After a fire has stopped advancing, or the fire behavior has decreased, firefighters will patrol the burned areas, known as “the black,” to manually put out embers and locate hot spots among the dirt and ash. This technique, called “cold trailing” involves firefighters working together in a grid pattern, touching the ground, the rocks, and any larger vegetation with their bare hands to search for heat. The firefighters will dig down to locate and extinguish the source of the heat. Crews will cold trail inward from the fire’s edge anywhere from 66 to 100 feet or more, to make sure any smoldering areas will not reignite and threaten the fire containment line. Cold trailing is one of many operations firefighters will conduct during the “mop up” phase of a fire. “Mop up” refers to the method firefighters use for extinguishing or removing burning material near control lines, felling snags, and trenching logs to prevent rolling after an area has burned, to make a fire safe, or to reduce residual smoke.

Weather: High pressure will bring further warming and drying through the end of the week with light terrain driven winds. A weak disturbance will move in over northern California this weekend bringing a little cooling and a slight increase in humidity and winds.

October 22, 2021 at 8:22 AM

Yesterday, fire activity was minimal and crews were able to gain valuable ground working toward the completion of containment lines and suppression repair activities.

Incident managers determine which critical values exist in a fire area when considering objectives during initial fire response, along with assets that could be threatened by potential future fire growth. In the KNP Complex, some of these critical values were determined to be the sequoia groves that are internationally recognized treasures and historic landmarks which are unique to this area. Making risk-informed decisions to minimize fire impacts to the sequoia groves has been a priority for every team assigned to this complex since its date of discovery. Risk-informed decision making requires evaluating and weighing safety considerations against desired outcomes. Considering those safety concerns and planning daily tasks is a coordinated effort. Hazard trees and the mitigation required to ensure life and structure welfare is one of the major safety considerations KNP Complex managers must consider.

Hazard trees—weakened by drought, disease, age, and/or fire—have a high probability to fail in part or whole and have the potential to strike people, cars, other structures, or create barriers to emergency response services. Reports indicate that there are upwards of ten thousand potential hazard trees along the Generals Highway. This count does not include hazard trees in the backcountry. Park foresters, fire and restoration managers have been working cooperatively to develop hazard tree mitigation actions. The KNP Complex currently has several saw crews strategically placed working along the Generals Highway to create safe travel zones for firefighters, residents, and future visitors. Until more progress has been made along major routes within the fire area, those roads will not open. Saw crews and feller bunchers are steadily working in and around the KNP Complex, and future updates will document more specific work being done by these crews.

Weather: A weak disturbance will bring a slight chance of light showers today and tomorrow, with cooler and breezy conditions. A potential season-ending rain event is expected by late this weekend into early next week, with most of the precipitation arriving Monday.

Safety: Please be aware of and respect closures and reduce speeds when traveling in and around the fire area.

October 21, 2021 at 9:05 AM

California Incident Management Team 12 assumed command of the KNP Complex yesterday at 1800 under the direction of Incident Commander Mike Nobles.  

There is still a fair amount of snow over a large portion of the fire area, so no forward fire progression was made yesterday and none is expected today. Creeping, backing and smoldering activity will be prevalent where fuels are deep, dense and dry and only minimally impacted by snow cover. Fire weakened trees will continue to fall, which is a consideration when planning crew placement and suppression activities each day.  

Today’s activities will remain mop up and patrol operations on all current control lines, in addition to direct line construction on the eastern and southern edges to tie together existing contingency lines. Daily coordination is taking place among land agencies, incident management teams, and local resource advisors to prioritize the giant sequoia groves and actions that will support limiting mortality in the groves. Intense suppression repair activities have been a priority all week in areas fully contained and controlled. Most of the suppression repair activities have been around the Hume Lake area, and on the western edge of the fire.  

Weather: Slight warming today is expected. Winds will remain light and terrain-driven with a continued west-southwest flow at the ridgetops. A weak disturbance will bring a slight chance of light showers Friday and Saturday with cooler and breezy conditions. Forecast models continue to show the potential for an atmospheric river to impact the fire area by late this weekend into early next week, with the majority of precipitation arriving Monday.

October 20, 2021 at 9:07 AM

Yesterday, the KNP Complex was quiet thanks to snowfall that covered 60-70% of the fire. Although there is still quite a bit of heat in the fire perimeter, very little to no movement is expected the remainder of the week. Below the Giant Forest on the High Sierra Trail, crews took advantage of wintry weather to make forward progression on containment lines. A road group working along the Generals Highway worked diligently felling hazard trees that could be detrimental to the safety of both firefighters and the public, and chipping brush piles that have been left behind during preparatory work. On Mineral King Road, crews and aircraft worked to contain a small portion of fire that crossed the road during the high wind event Sunday.

An increased emphasis has been placed on suppression repair ahead of the forecasted weather this weekend, which is predicted to bring several inches of rain. Without vegetation to naturally slow water movement produced by the storm, flash flooding and heavy debris flow could be possible, bringing logs, limbs, rocks and sediment down slopes, across roads and into streams and culverts. Active and anticipated suppression repair includes:

• Installing waterbars on dozer firelines, which are diagonal depressions dug across the lines that divert surface water that would otherwise flow down the lines off into a stable drainage way. These are particularly useful on steep slopes that are more susceptible to soil erosion

• Removing berms and debris from streams where firelines crossed, and mulching fire line approaches.

• Restoring road drainage structures back to pre-fire condition.

• Treating/reducing large concentrations of downed trees near roads and structures.

• Addressing public safety issues, such as flagging/marking hazard trees threatening roads or structures for removal by professional fallers, and mapping/reporting downed power and phone lines.

California Incident Management Team 2 wishes to thank the communities they have had the privilege of working in and with over the course of the last two weeks. California Incident Management Team 12 has arrived in Orange Cove and will take command of the KNP Complex at 1800 Wednesday.

Weather: Temperatures will continue to warm through the remainder of the week, and humidity levels will drop.

Safety: Please be aware of and respect closures and reduce speeds when traveling in and around the fire area.

October 18, 2021 at 9:17 AM

Yesterday, a moderate increase in fire behavior was observed as a cold front progressed into the fire area. The western flank of the fire is holding well in mop-up and patrol status, and suppression repair is progressing. On the east side, heavy burning fuels by the Dorst Creek Cabin were suppressed by some assistance from aircraft and the fire was successfully held back. Below the Giant Forest, a flanking run along the rim created some hot spots between the top of the rim and the High Sierra Trail. The fire is expected to back down to the trail where it will receive additional mop-up attention. At Redwood Meadows Patrol Cabin, structure protection measures were taken and will be reassessed today. As anticipated, the fire progressed toward Mineral King Road, and a firefighter assisted in successfully escorting several residents out of the valley who had prior authorization to enter. Moisture arrived after midnight and brought higher humidity, which will remain most of the week.

Today, no forward movement of the fire is expected. The Sequoia Protection Group has been assigned to ensure grove safety and to monitor fire activity in and around those areas. Coordination is taking place daily with local resource advisors to prioritize actions that will support limiting mortality to the species. Patrol, mop-up and suppression repair are the primary activities on the western edge. Lack of manmade features and natural barriers on the southern and eastern edges of the fire has made implementation of control lines difficult, but crews anticipate successful line completion soon. Snags and steep, inaccessible terrain remain a threat to the safety of firefighters. Fuels east of the Generals Highway are sparser than in other areas, which will help moderate forward progression.

Kings Canyon National Park will open with reduced services today, October 18. Visit www.nps.gov/SEKI for more information. Developed areas of the Sequoia National Park remain closed, and all previous closures of the Sequoia National Forest and the Giant Sequoia National Monument remain in effect.

Weather: A much cooler air mass with much higher humidity will prevail today with clouds persisting much of the day. Temperatures are expected to slowly rise through the rest of the week.

Safety: Please be aware of and respect closures and reduce speeds when traveling in and around the fire area.

October 17, 2021 at 10:17 AM

Cooler temperatures will move in late this morning, pushed by strong winds out of the southwest. Ahead of the cold front, an increase in fire activity is expected, with single or group tree torching possible. Surface fuels below the Giant Forest are sparse, so no extreme fire activity within the Grove is expected. East of the Grove, a crew will be flying in to wrap the Redwood Meadow Patrol Cabin ahead of the increased fire activity and potential spread. Across the rest of the fire, mop up activities are well underway, and fireline strengthening and improvements are being made where necessary. Fallers (logging workers) and a feller buncher (a large piece of mechanized equipment capable of moving multiple logs at a time) are working along Redwood Mountain Road to mitigate hazards from heat-damaged trees and limbs.  

Fire suppression repair groups have initiated work on non-primary containment lines, which are lines not currently being utilized to hold the fire back. The construction of water bars will ensure proper drainage and improve water quality, and dozer line rehabilitation and chipping activities have commenced. More equipment is expected to arrive daily, including additional chippers and excavators. Future suppression repair work will include road and fireline grading to minimize impacts to vehicles, and pulling in berms and woody debris developed in the construction of firelines. In areas where dozer lines were driven on by emergency response vehicles, resource advisors will determine whether the areas need to be tilled to reduce soil compaction. Blocking and/or camouflaging firelines from intersections or from public view discourages future motorized use since those areas can sometimes be mistaken for legal, off-highway vehicle trails or roads and are unsafe for travel. Signs, gates and barriers are often damaged by fire activities, creating public safety concerns. In the KNP Complex area, these items will be inventoried before decisions about repair/replacement can be made.  

Kings Canyon National Park will open with reduced services on Monday, October 18. Visit www.nps.gov/SEKI for more information. Developed areas of the Sequoia National Park remain closed, and all previous closures of the Sequoia National Forest remain in effect.  

Weather: A low-pressure system moving in this morning will bring gusty winds, cooler temperatures, and higher humidity. A very cold air mass will settle over the fire area tonight.  

Safety: Please be aware of and respect closures and reduce speeds when traveling in and around the fire area.

October 15, 2021 at 8:29 AM

Along the western and northern boundaries of the KNP Complex today, crews will perform patrol and mop-up activities, as well as initiating suppression repair by strategically placing equipment such as dozers and chippers along areas needing additional work. Firefighters are working in the area between Montecito Lodge and Stony Creek to secure containment and to isolate hot spots to prevent further spread. On the southeast flank, the fire will slowly back toward Cliff Creek. There is a prior-year burn scar between the fire and the creek, so if the fire reaches the burn scar, aircraft will be very effective in responding with suppression tactics.

Snags and steep, inaccessible terrain remain a threat to the safety of firefighters, so unmanned aircraft systems (drones) will assist in those areas. Suppression repair on contingency lines will commence where it is appropriate and safe to do so. Structure protection groups will be patrolling and monitoring the full perimeter of the fire.  

As the warmer temperatures this week dry more receptive fuels, active fire behavior moving toward the interior will produce more smoke which will settle in the valleys and canyons. No forward progression is expected beyond the current fire footprint.  

Weather: Weather conditions will remain warm and dry through the end of the week. No appreciable changes other than a few clouds are anticipated through the end of the week.  

Safety: Please be aware of and respect closures and reduce speeds when traveling in and around the fire area.

October 14, 2021 at 8:37 AM

Along the western flank of the KNP Complex today, crews will patrol and mop up along strong containment lines. No challenges are anticipated. In these areas, suppression repair will also commence. Suppression repair consists of actions designed to mitigate adverse effects to resources as a result of fire suppression activities. Resource advisors from public land management agencies with ownership within the KNP Complex have cooperatively developed site-specific repair recommendations and will monitor repair activities along roads, constructed fire lines, safety zones, drop points, and water sources. Restoring areas to pre-fire conditions is not immediately possible because vegetation recovery is necessary, but preparing the land for recovery is critical to ensuring long-term health of the land.   

Along the eastern and southern flanks, the fire is expected to produce more smoke which will settle in the valleys and canyons. From Montecito Lodge to Stony Creek, containment line construction will progress. Aerial operations will mostly be focused on the area of the fire upslope from the Middle Fork of the Kaweah River. Unmanned aircraft systems and drones will be utilized in areas too unsafe for crews to enter. Structure protection groups will be patrolling and monitoring the full perimeter of the fire, focusing on ensuring that previously identified values at risk are still intact and safe, and that suppression equipment is properly winterized. 

Fire containment, returning residents back to their homes and communities, opening critical infrastructure, and restoration/repair of natural resources all remain incident objectives even through transition among management teams and firefighting resources. Although fire activity has slowed, safety of firefighters and the public is the top priority. Residents and visitors are reminded to remain vigilant to changing conditions, increased emergency response activity, and changing weather patterns which may impact weakened trees and create additional overhead hazards or ground instability. 

Weather: Weather conditions will remain warm and dry through the end of the week. No appreciable changes other than a few clouds are anticipated through the end of the week.

Safety: Please be aware of and respect closures and reduce speeds when traveling in and around the fire area.  

Evacuations: Evacuation ORDERS and WARNINGS are in place. For the most up-to-date information, visit: https://nifc.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=4b2ac27b5c8943ed92c0e77aa94daca0. Learn to prepare for an evacuation by visiting https://www.readyforwildfire.org/. 

October 13, 2021 at 9:02 AM

California Incident Management Team 2 has assumed full command of the KNP Complex as of 1800 Tuesday. California Incident Management Team 1 has been released to support the Los Padres National Forest. 

Branch 1 (North): Minimal fire activity was present yesterday across the north end of the fire, but smoke was still heavy due to isolated pockets of heat from heavy fuel loads and burning stumps across the forest floor. Fire crews focused mainly on mop up and patrol activities, and worked to strengthen line between Montecito Lodge and Stony Creek. These activities will remain a priority in the coming days. As temperatures rise and fall and humidity levels change daily, fire activity will naturally increase and decrease but no forward progression outside the current fire footprint is expected. Fluctuations in fire activity will continue to occur until a multiple-day wetting (or season-ending) event occurs. Statistically this takes place in the month of October. 

Branch 2 (South): The fire was fairly quiet yesterday across the southern flank, with most activity being observed on the eastern side of the fire upslope from the Middle Fork of the Kaweah River. Contingency lines on the western side of the fire are nearing completion, and mop up and patrol will be primary activities in the coming days. Fire activity is expected to pick up slightly within the next few days as fuels become drier and temperatures increase, but no outward progression is expected. Firing operations will be implemented as needed to protect any identified values at risk. 

Weather: Temperatures will start warming today, and the rest of the week a high-pressure system is expected to build in the area. Winds will remain light.

October 12, 2021 at 9:00 AM

North Zone: Decreased visibility hampered suppression and aircraft response yesterday. Light snow fell at higher elevations and temperatures dropped to 15 degrees in some areas. In anticipation of falling temperatures, the instability of trees and weakened limbs, crews moved to lower, warmer elevations for the night. Full connection of containment line in the northeast section between Montecito Lodge and Stony Creek is expected to be complete in the coming days. No forward progression beyond the current fire footprint is expected, and crews will focus on mop-up and scouting activities. Fire managers expect that calmer winds and clearer conditions will allow for unmanned aircraft system patrols over areas which remain inaccessible to crews due to extreme overhead hazards from broken and burned tree limbs. Drone operations will give a clearer picture of the fire’s impact on larger sequoia groves. Night crews have been released to assist with daytime operations. 

South Zone: Yesterday, most of the fire area received some amount of precipitation as either rain or snow. Early in the morning, before the wind began, aircraft was utilized to provide protection in anticipation of any additional spread. More blackline was added in the southern zone connecting the area east of the Sheep Ridge Wilderness south along the perimeter to where it tied back into black, south of Fry’s Point. The hotshot crew strategically inserted on the southwestern edge of the fire perimeter and the East Fork of the Kaweah River continue to complete direct line working to the east. This work will continue over the next few days. Backhaul operations continue on the western portion of the fire to remove hose lays, pumps, and other excessive equipment that is no longer needed to support suppression efforts. The difficult work through the duff in Atwell Grove continues with hand line construction north towards the natural features. This work will ensure both the trees are protected and they are able to extinguish any residual heat near the fire’s perimeter. 

Weather: Dryer weather is expected today, bringing warmer temperatures which will last through the end of the week. 

Safety: Please continue to respect closures and reduce speeds when traveling in and around the fire area. Be advised that road conditions may have deteriorated overnight due to precipitation at higher elevations.  

October 11, 2021 at 1:24 PM

From the IC: We are aware that an accident involving rolling material occurred at approximately 11:15 am in the vicinity of Atwell Grove area. Agency personnel are responding. Additional information will be released as it becomes available.

October 11, 2021 at 9:40 AM

North Zone: Favorable weather has provided crews a welcome reprieve from aggressive fire behavior, and little to no forward progression is expected over the next operational period. Mop up and removal of suppression equipment has commenced as line completion has progressed in the northwest. Direct line is now in place from the Eshom Valley around the north end of the fire to Stony Creek on the east. Firefighters will reinforce these lines over the next several days. On the eastern flank near Giant Forest Grove, crews will search for and extinguish hot spots and work on contingency lines around the grove. Aircraft is available to fly if conditions are favorable. Fire managers will be paying particular attention to forecasted high winds and gusty conditions over the next 24 hours and are prepared to respond accordingly should the fire move beyond its current footprint. 

South Zone: Yesterday, aircraft was utilized to place retardant around the Redwood Meadow Grove and Case Mountain Grove, providing protection in the event of any additional spread. Additionally, blackline was added in the southern zone north of Ash Mountain up towards the zone break. A hotshot crew was strategically inserted on the southwestern edge of the fire perimeter and the East Fork of the Kaweah River. The crew has completed approximately 1 mile of handline, working to the east. This work will continue over the next few days. Firefighters are focusing on work to be done for the west and south portions of the fire. Backhaul operations continue on the western portion of the fire to remove hose lays, pumps, and other excessive equipment that is no longer needed to support suppression efforts. Firefighters continue laborious work in Atwell grove where they are constructing handline in dead plant material such as leaves, bark, and twigs that is up to 3 feet deep. This work will ensure both the trees are protected and they are able to extinguish any residual heat near the fire’s perimeter. The constructed line will continue north and connect to a scree field, or natural holding feature. 

A virtual public meeting was held last night and is viewable here: https://youtube.com/channel/UCe2YK0AO0yGBpcYosb3cguA 

Weather: A cold front is moving rapidly through the area and will bring much lower temperatures, higher humidity and some precipitation. Unseasonably low temperatures will remain once the cold front passes, but dryer air will move in. 

Safety: Please continue to respect closures and reduce speeds when traveling in and around the fire area. 

Evacuations: Evacuation ORDERS and WARNINGS are in place. For the most up-to-date information, visit: here. Learn to prepare for an evacuation by visiting https://www.readyforwildfire.org/. 

October 10, 2021 at 9:27 AM

KNP ComplexNorth and South Zone Virtual Community Meeting will be held Sunday October 10, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. The meeting will be live streamed to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Facebook Page, the Sequoia National Forest Facebook Page and the KNP Complex YouTube channel. Please email 2021.knp@firenet.gov with questions prior to the meeting. 

North Zone: Fire crews are taking advantage of the recent rain and favorable weather. Higher fuel moisture and increased humidity has decreased the chance of rapid fire spread allowing for line construction directly on the fire’s edge in several areas where it was previously unsafe to do so. Six hot shot crews are making good progress cutting line from the area of Big Baldy Mountain south to Cabin Creek. Structure protection groups are deployed in Giant Forest Grove, Wilsonia and Grant Grove. These groups are protecting both structures and sequoia groves. Sprinkler systems have been set up around structures and within the groves. Work on the west contingency line at Logger Peak and Dark Canyon is expected to be completed in a couple of days.     

South Zone: California Incident Management Team 1 assumed command of the South Zone on Saturday, October 9, 2021 at 6:00 pm. They will continue to build upon the good work previously done by Southwest Area Incident Management Team 2. Firefighters assisted by aviation assets will continue to patrol and mop up along the fire perimeter starting at the zone break, working south towards Advent. With the additional containment along the southwest portion of the fire, crews will begin to backhaul the nearly 40,000 ft of hose lay in place. Firefighters are utilizing the existing dozer line to access the fire perimeter northeast of Three Rives. They will address any concerning heats along the perimeter, air support will be available to assist with bucket drops as visibility allows. Secondary contingency lines continue to be scouted in preparation of any movement. Containment of the south end of the fire continues to be a high priority. Crews are working to keep the fire north of the East Fork of the Kaweah River. Handline is being constructed in the southwest corner to prevent spread to the west of Mineral King Road. Preparation and protection efforts are ongoing in Atwell Grove. 

Weather: A weak high pressure system over the area will bring slightly warmer temperatures today.  

Safety: Please continue to respect closures and reduce speeds when traveling in and around the fire area. 

Evacuations: Evacuation ORDERS and WARNINGS are in place. For the most up-to-date information, visit: here. Learn to prepare for an evacuation by visiting https://www.readyforwildfire.org/ 

October 9, 2021 at 9:59 AM

KNP ComplexNorth and South Zone Virtual Community Meeting will be held Sunday October 10, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. The meeting will be live streamed to Sequoia Kings Canyon National Park Facebook Page and Sequoia National Forest Facebook Page. Please email 2021.knp@firenet.gov with questions prior to the meeting. 

North Zone: Yesterday, on the north end of the fire, crews worked to mop up hot spots still smoldering after Wednesday night’s burning operation. Firefighters also worked around structures in Wilsonia and nearby sequoia groves. Rain fell on the fire yesterday with some areas receiving up to three-tenths of an inch, significantly decreasing fire behavior. Unfortunately, because of the hazards of rocks and snags falling down slope firefighters were unable to engage directly on the east side along Generals Highway. Humidity will remain high today and the fuels will remain moist. Although the potential for the fire to be spread by rolling materials still exists, the chances of forward progress are minimal. 

South Zone: After many weeks of hard work, containment has increased along portions of the western perimeter. Resources previously working in these areas are being strategically placed throughout the South Zone to assist with ongoing suppression efforts. Firefighters are moving back into the fire area after yesterday’s weather limited safe access. Line construction and hose lay is being put in place on the southwest corner to prevent further spread to the west of Mineral King Road. Handline and hose lays on the southeast corner connecting Mineral King Road and the East Fork Kaweah River have been completed. Crews are working to improve lines and mop up any remaining pockets of heat. Preparation and protection tactics are being utilized in Atwell Grove in the event the fire continues to move east. California Incident Management Team 1 has arrived and will assume command of the south zone at 6:00 pm tonight. 

Weather: Yesterday’s storms brought a wetting rain over the majority of the fire area. Today will be sunny and dry with light, north-northwesterly winds. 

Safety: As we start the weekend, please continue to respect closures and reduce speeds when traveling in and around the fire area. 

October 8, 2021 at 3:21 PM

The four individuals struck by a tree on the southern end of the KNP Complex Thursday afternoon, have all been released from the hospital. One is an employee with CALFIRE and three are Corpsmembers with the California Conservation Corps.

North Zone: California Interagency Incident Management Team 2 (CIIMT2) assumed command of the North Zone of the KNP Complex yesterday at 6 pm. The zone will be comprised of the portions of the fire from Eshom Valley on the west side, around the north end of the fire to the Giant Forest on the east side. Team 2 will continue to build on the good work done in the last two weeks by Southwest Incident Management Team 2. Today’s primary focus will be the area where the fire crossed the Generals Highway south of Grant Grove. Last night a tactical firing operation from Park Ridge to Redwood Canyon locked in that portion of the line. Today crews will follow up by patrolling that area and extinguishing hot spots. An indirect line is being constructed around Stony Creek Lodge to the Generals Highway. This line will continue around the lodge and down to Lost Grove. Increased humidity and shading of fuels by clouds will decrease fire behavior and provide more opportunities to build direct line. Firefighters will be scouting the fire and looking for areas where they can build control line directly on the fire’s edge.

South Zone: Southwest Area Incident Management Team 2 remains in command of the South Zone of the KNP Complex. The zone will be comprised of the portions of the fire from Eshom Valley on the west side, around the south end of the fire to the Giant Forest Grove on the east side. Today, firefighters are patrolling the west perimeter and working to extinguish hotspots, preventing further spread. Heavy equipment and crews are implementing structure protection and preparation around Case Mountain Grove, Silver City, and Mineral King. Fire spread to the south of Mineral King Road is being reduced with line construction and hose lays in place.

Weather: A chance of scattered rain across the fire area will increase as we move into the afternoon. Thunderstorms developing in the surrounding area are expected to bring cooler temperatures and gusty winds. Moisture is expected across the fire area with snow in the high elevations.

Safety: Firefighters will continue fire suppression efforts across both the North and South Zones as long as they can do so safely with these changing weather conditions. Firefighter safety is our #1 priority and work objectives may change.

Evacuations: Evacuation ORDERS and WARNINGS are in place. For the most up-to-date information, visit: https://nifc.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=4b2ac27b5c8943ed92c0e77aa94daca0.

October 7, 2021 at 10:12 PM

KNP Complex Update – Special Announcement

At approximately 3:00 pm this afternoon, the KNP Complex received a radio transmission that a tree had fallen, striking four individuals working on the KNP Complex Fire. The patients were all brought to the nearest helispot and were transported by air to area hospitals. All four individuals are receiving medical care. Thankfully, while the injuries are serious, they are in stable condition, and we are grateful.

October 7, 2021 at 10:16 AM

California Incident Management Team 2, a type one team, has arrived and preparation has begun to separate the KNP Complex into two geographical zones in order to support suppression efforts across the fire area. This team will spend the day gathering information and take control of the KNP Complex North Zone at 6:00 p.m. tonight, Thursday, October 7, 2021. Southwest Team 2 will remain in command of the KNP Complex South Zone as this transition occurs.

Yesterday: Firefighters continued with tactical firing operations to the north along Old Sawmill Road. On the northern perimeter, the fire crossed a portion of Generals Highway but was caught by crews securing handline around the fires edge. Structure protection continued around Wilsonia, Grant Grove Village and surrounding communities. Crews were able to stop forward progress and place hose lay on the 75-acre spot on the western edge near Advance. An increase in visibility provided opportunities for helicopters to support ground resources with bucket drops for both the 75-acre growth and hotspots located south of Mineral King Road. 

Today: Work continues in Eshom Creek with crews connecting the contingency line to Generals Highway along the northwestern corner of the fire. Firefighters are patrolling Old Sawmill Road to ensure the fire stays within the containment line where tactical firing operations are occurring. Structure protection remains in place for Grant Grove Village, Wilsonia, and surrounding communities. Heavy equipment, such as dozers and masticators, are working in coordination with crews to improve contingency lines north of Generals Highway near Park Ridge. Resources are clearing vegetation around Bearskin, Tenmile, Landslide, Grant, and Big Stump sequoia groves to protect areas to the north. For the northeast portion of the fire, dozers are working in the Stony Creek area to clear heavy, dead and down vegetation to provide safe access for crews engaging directly on the fires edge with suppression efforts. Firefighters working on the south end of KNP Complex are improving handline and checking hose lays along the Mineral King Road, east of Oak Grove. Crews are working along the western perimeter near North Fork Drive to locate and cool any hotspots on the 75-acre spot to prevent future growth. Helicopters are available to support firefighters on the ground with bucket drops and reconnaissance flights as visibility allows for the safe operation of flight crews. 

Safety: For the safety of the firefighters and public, please observe all closures in place for the Forest Service and National Park. Turn on headlights and slow down when traveling within surrounding communities. 

Weather: Light winds, slight decrease in temperature and increase in relative humidities are expected to help moderate fire behavior and slow fire spread. Clouds will move into the area during the afternoon with precipitation possible over the fire late Thursday evening, early Friday morning. Snow is forecasted for the higher elevations as we move into Friday. 

October 6, 2021 at 9:16 AM

Sheriff Boudreaux has issued an evacuation order for All residences on both sides of North Fork from Sheep Creek to Yucca Creek. There will be a road closure at North Fork at Sheep Creek.

Evacuation WARNINGS still remain in place for all structures from Old Three Rivers Rd and Blossom Dr to South Fork Dr, including South Fork Dr up HWY 198 to Mineral King Dr, including North Fork Dr, also including all side roads along HWY 198 to Mineral King Dr.

October 5, 2021 at 1:21 PM

A Virtual Community Meeting will be held at 7:00 pm tonight at https://www.facebook.com/SequoiaKingsNPS/live_videos 

Active fire behavior was observed over most of the fire yesterday, making a run as it became established in Redwood Creek on the northern end. Firefighters provided structure protection for Wilsonia, Hartland, Quail Flat, and Grant Grove along the northwest perimeter. The fire crossed Generals Highway near Redwood Mountain Grove and Stoney Creek, causing firefighters to temporarily move to safer locations. On the southern side of the fire, resources worked along the Mineral King Road to contain the spot fires from Sunday night. Firefighters also provided structure protection in Silver City and the Mineral King area. Aircraft were able to support ground resources with bucket drops on Monday once the smoke cleared enough to safely fly. 

Today, firefighters will improve control lines along the northwest perimeter to keep the fire east of Hartland and protect Wilsonia, Hartland, Quail Flat, and Grant Grove Village. Resources are working at the Big Whistle area and around park structures to stop the fire from moving any farther north. Along Generals Highway, firefighters are patrolling established firelines near Big Baldy and construct firelines father east by Stoney Creek and Cabin Creek to prevent further spread to the northeast. Resources south of Morro Rock are connecting indirect lines back to established containment lines. On the southern perimeter of the fire, resources are working to contain the fire where it crossed Mineral King Road. Crews are working to keep the fire from progressing south toward Ash Mountain. Structure protection continues for Silver City, the Mineral King area, Three Rivers and Ash Mountain. Aviation assets are available to support firefighting efforts on the ground as visibility improves. 

For public and firefighter safety, we ask if you are traveling along road systems near the fire are to please slow down, turn on your lights and watch out fire equipment on the road. 

For more detailed information on Evacuation orders and Warnings you can visit: https://nifc.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=4b2ac27b5c8943ed92c0e77aa94daca0 

A ridge of high pressure finally begins to break down as a low-pressure trough approaches. This will allow a small increase in westerly winds aloft, bringing slightly better smoke mixing in the afternoon. Local winds will remain light, and terrain driven. Humidity levels will rise slowly, which will help to moderate fire behavior. 

Information about how to prepare for evacuations can be found at https://www.readyforwildfire.org/ 

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are closed west of the Pacific Crest Trail and south of the ridgeline which lies north of Ionian Basin. In addition, the BLM Case Mountain Extensive Recreation Management Area and major portions of the Sequoia National Forest are also closed. 

Communities surrounding the park and in the nearby region are being affected by smoke and the resulting poor air quality. Track your local air quality at https://www.wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlooks/FresnoCA. 

October 4, 2021 at 8:00 AM

Sheriff Boudreaux has issued an evacuation order for the following residences in the Mineral King area, Gateway, to the Park Entrance including Sycamore Dr.

The area will include Mineral King Rd from Highway 198 to the Oak Grove Bridge, including Crest, Sierra King, Hammond, and Oak Grove. There will be a road closure at Highway 198 at Mineral King Rd.

The Evacuation Order will include: Mineral King Dr up to the Sequoia National Park Boundary, including associated structures along both sides of HWY 198 to the Park Boundary. Including, Oak Grove Bridge down to HWY 198, including Sierra King Dr, Crest Lane, Hammond Dr, Oak Grove Dr.  Not including Dinely Dr.

Evacuation WARNINGS still remain in place for all structures from Old Three Rivers Rd and Blossom Dr to South Fork Dr, including South Fork Dr up HWY 198 to Mineral King Dr, including North Fork Dr, also including all side roads along HWY 198 to Mineral King Dr.

Please refer to https://tularecounty.ca.gov/emergencies/  KNP Complex Evacuation Area Map for more information.   

Late last night winds caused a spot fire across Mineral King Rd which prompted an Evacuation Order for Crest, Sierra King, Hammond, and Oak Grove. Yesterday, firefighters continued with indirect suppression tactics to secure control lines on the northwest perimeter. Tactical firing operations are being used to create a continuous line between previously established control lines and existing or natural holding features such as roads and rock scurries. In Redwood Mountain Grove, crews worked in close coordination with natural resource specialists as they progressed with strategic firing operations in the northwest. Structure protection continues in Eshom, Hartland, Silver City and Mineral King areas.

Today, along Mineral King Rd firefighters will assess how to safely engage the spot fires that occurred last night. Resources will continue to provide structure protection for those communities under Evacuation Orders. Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) will be used to help gather information along the southern perimeter. The fire continues to hold east of control lines on the western perimeter. Firefighters will continue to secure lines while maintaining a presence in the Three Rivers and Ash Mountain areas. Tactical firing operations will continue as conditions allow along the northwest flank as crews progress to the north. Firefighters in Redwood Mountain Grove are working in coordination with resource advisors to establish strategic plans for future tactical firing operations. UAS may assist firefighters with tactical firing operations as they progress north along Generals Highway. Minimal fire activity was observed near the northeast corner because the fire is burning in areas with less continuous fuels. Firefighters continue to secure and extinguish heat sources near established containment lines and within the Giant Forest Grove. Aviation resources are available to support firefighting efforts on the ground as visibility allows.

Containment decreased due to the increase in fire size. We ask the public to use caution when traveling in and around the fire area as firefighters and equipment are diligently working to protect communities and construct containment lines.   

The high-pressure ridge that has held smoke over the fire over the past few days will begin to break down as a low-pressure trough approaches today. This will allow a small increase in westerly winds aloft which will start to lift smoke up and out of the area. Local winds will remain light and terrain driven. Humidity levels will rise slowly as moister air moves into the area, which will help moderate fire behavior slightly in the coming days.

September 30, 2021 at 9:41 AM

Yesterday, fire activity was minimal in most areas along the perimeter. Firefighters continued to scout and construct direct line, strengthen and hold existing lines, monitor the perimeter and work on contingency lines. As smoke and conditions allowed, helicopters conducted buckets drops on isolated pockets of heat, slowing fire spread on the western perimeter, in the Pine Grove area, and the east side of Generals Highway. Crews constructed containment line north of Lodgepole, and structure protection groups continued to shore up protections for local communities.

Today, a drying weather trend is expected to increase fire activity. Structure protection groups will remain positioned to focus on and protect local communities including Three Rivers, Hartland and Ash Mountain, the giant sequoia groves, historic buildings and other infrastructure. Helicopters are available to conduct bucket drops to support firefighters on the ground. Crews continue to work along Mineral King Road in anticipation of increased fire activity and look for opportunities to safely construct direct line north of Mineral King Road. Firefighters continue to prep and protect the Giant Forest, Muir, Lost, and Redwood sequoia groves.

There have been no new evacuation Warnings or Orders for the KNP Complex in the past 24 hours. All evacuation warnings and orders that that have been issued are still active. Areas currently under an evacuation warning are urged to be ready to mobilize and leave should the warning escalate to an evacuation order. Explore a map of the areas under a warning or order at www.tularecounty.ca.gov/emergencies. A Red Cross evacuation center is located at the Woodlake Community Center at 145 Magnolia St, Woodlake, CA.

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are closed west of the Pacific Crest Trail and south of the ridgeline which lies north of Ionian Basin. In addition, the BLM Case Mountain Extensive Recreation Management Area and major portions of the Sequoia National Forest are also closed.

Communities surrounding the park and in the nearby region are being affected by smoke and the resulting poor air quality. Track your local air quality at https://www.wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlooks/FresnoCA.

September 28, 2021 at 12:24 PM

Firefighting resources continue to work to increase containment on the KNP Complex. Challenges include drought stressed vegetation, and heavy brush loads on steep slopes. Changes in weather today may allow smoke to lift and allow fire columns to develop. Aircraft is available to support ground resources as weather conditions permit.

Yesterday, resources continued to improve the Mineral King Road on the southern edge and monitored the fire as it backed down toward the road. Today, firefighters along the western flanks will remain engaged with structure protection of Hartland and the surrounding areas and work the fires edge to construct and improve containment lines. Along the southern perimeter crews will continue to improve the Mineral King Road in addition to having resources in Three Rivers, Silver City and Mineral King communities. Crews on the northern flank will continue to build direct line to the east. On the eastern perimeter crews continue to mop up hot spots within the Giant Forest and improve containment lines. They are also looking for opportunities to build fire line north from Lodgepole. Weather should allow aircraft to work in coordination with ground resources to support firefighting efforts.

There have been no new evacuation Warnings or Orders for the KNP Complex in the past 24 hours. All evacuation warnings and orders that that have been issued are still active. Areas currently under an evacuation warning are urged to be ready to mobilize and leave should the warning escalate to an evacuation order. Explore a map of the areas under a warning or order at www.tularecounty.ca.gov/emergencies. A Red Cross evacuation center is located at the Woodlake Community Center at 145 Magnolia St, Woodlake, CA.

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are closed west of the Pacific Crest Trail and south of the ridgeline which lies north of Ionian Basin. In addition, the BLM Case Mountain Extensive Recreation Management Area and major portions of the Sequoia National Forest are also closed.

Communities surrounding the park and in the nearby region are being affected by smoke and the resulting poor air quality. Track your local air quality at https://www.wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlooks/FresnoCA.

September 27, 2021 at 11:46 AM

As of 1800 Sunday night Southwest Area Incident Management Team 2 assumed command of the KNP Complex. The incident management team will be working closely with Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Cal-Fire, Sequoia National Forest, Bureau of Land Management, California National Guard, and multiple other cooperating agencies. Fire managers will continue to use full suppression strategies in an effort to protect the surrounding communities impacted, natural resources, and critical infrastructure.

Firefighters are using a combination of direct and indirect suppression tactics by constructing containment lines with heavy equipment, hand crews, engines, aircraft, and miscellaneous personnel. Resources look to also utilize natural barriers and seek areas of opportunity to conduct back fire operations to establish containment lines when conditions are favorable.

Along the northern perimeter firefighters helped to protect the Muir Grove by utilizing firing ignitions to move fire through the grove to minimize impacts from the fire. Crews also focused efforts on building hand line, putting in hose lays and constructing contingency lines. Firefighters on the north east side scouted for opportunities to construct containment lines looking to progress east and connect to existing containment lines. Resources on the east flank of the fire will be securing established containment lines near and within the Giant Forest as they were successful with the help from fuels treatment projects and prescribed (RX) fire that has been done in and around the national park. On the southern flank resources along Mineral King road will monitor the fire and continue to provide structure protection to the communities Silver City and Mineral King as the fire moves down slope towards holding features.

Firefighters on the western perimeter remain engaged with structure protection in the Three Rivers community, Ash Mountain, and critical infrastructure. Air operations will continue to support ground operations as smoke conditions allow across the entire fire area.

There have been no new evacuation Warnings or Orders for the KNP Complex in the past 24 hours. All evacuation warnings and orders that that have been issued are still active. Areas currently under an evacuation warning are urged to be ready to mobilize and leave should the warning escalate to an evacuation order. Explore a map of the areas under a warning or order at tularecounty.ca.gov/emergencies. A Red Cross evacuation center is located at the Woodlake Community Center at 145 Magnolia St, Woodlake, CA.

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are closed west of the Pacific Crest Trail and south of the ridgeline which lies north of Ionian Basin. In addition, the BLM Case Mountain Extensive Recreation Management Area and major portions of the Sequoia National Forest are also closed.

September 26, 2021 at 7:26 PM

Resources continue to be allocated in alignment with incident priorities. CalFire dozers and hand crews have completed line construction on the west side of the fire above Three Rivers and North Fork Road and fire retardant was applied to the edge of the fuel break to increase protection. A firing operation occurred along Mineral King Road south of Paradise Ridge to secure that area. California Army National Guard troops continue working in the northern portion of the fire to protect Park infrastructure. Preparations are being made to apply fire retardant gel to the sequoia trees in the Muir Grove using helicopters if the weather permits. A structure protection group is working in the Hartland area and crews are preparing to defend structures should the fire reach that area.
Today’s weather forecast: High pressure continues to dominate the region today. Winds remain light and terrain driven. Areas where smoke clears will see more active fire behavior in the afternoon. Overnight humidity recovery last night was near zero. Poor humidity recovery and warmer temperatures will lead to drier conditions through the afternoon. A low pressure system is expected Monday which will bring an increase in winds and some clearing of smoke.
Air operations will continue to support ground operations as smoke conditions allow across the entire fire area.

There have been no new evacuation Warnings or Orders for the KNP Complex in the past 24 hours. All evacuation warnings and orders that that have been issued are still active. Areas currently under an evacuation warning are urged to be ready to mobilize and leave should the warning escalate to an evacuation order.

Explore a map of the areas under a warning or order at www.tularecounty.ca.gov/emergencies. A Red Cross evacuation center is located at the Woodlake Community Center at 145 Magnolia St, Woodlake, CA.

September 24, 2021 at 12:32 PM

There was 8,522 acres of growth on the fire in the last 24 hours. The majority of that growth was in the Ash Mountain area where a burning operation took place to protect the Park buildings and infrastructure.

Resources continue to be allocated in alignment with incident priorities. Seventeen dozers are operating in the Hartland/Wilsonia area to open old roads for better fire access and improve control operations. Previous fuel treatments helped protect the big grove in Kings Canyon area, and burnout operations have been used in the Crystal Cave area to reduce fuels between the fire and the Hidden Fire burn scar. Crews are preparing for burnout operations to reduce fuels in the Park Headquarters area near Ash Mt and Paradise Ridge, and north of the Mineral King Road tentatively scheduled to occur in the next few days as conditions permit.

Today’s weather forecast: High pressure continues to dominate the region today. Winds remain light and terrain driven. Areas where smoke clears will see more active fire behavior in the afternoon. Poor humidity recovery and warmer temperatures will lead to drier conditions through the afternoon.

Air operations will continue to support ground operations as smoke conditions allow across the entire fire area.

There have been no new evacuation Warnings or Orders for the KNP Complex in the past 24 hours. All evacuation warnings and orders that that have been issued are still active. Areas currently under an evacuation warning are urged to be ready to mobilize and leave should the warning escalate to an evacuation order. Explore a map of the areas under a warning or order at www.tularecounty.ca.gov/emergencies. A Red Cross evacuation center is located at the Woodlake Community Center at 145 Magnolia St, Woodlake, CA.

September 23, 2021 at 2:11 PM

Resources continue to be allocated in alignment with incident priorities. Crews and equipment are particularly focused on direct and indirect line construction along the southern, western, and northwestern flanks of the fire today to protect adjacent communities.

Smoky conditions will persist today with some clearing expected in southern areas of the fire. Areas where smoke clears will see more active fire behavior in the afternoon. Terrain driven winds with gusts between 5-7 mph, and possibly as high as 10 mph, will continue today.

Air operations will continue to support ground operations as smoke conditions allow across the entire fire area.

A new evacuation warning was issued yesterday for the communities of Eshom and Heartland Camp. Areas currently under an evacuation warning are urged to be ready to mobilize and leave should the warning escalate to an evacuation order. Explore a map of the areas warning or order at www.tularecounty.ca.gov/emergencies. A Red Cross evacuation center is located at the Woodlake Community Center at 145 Magnolia St, Woodlake, CA.

Sequoia National Park is closed to the public and large portions of Kings Canyon National Park have now been closed. Communities further from the parks are also feeling air quality impacts. Track your local air quality at https://www.wildlandfiresmoke.net/outlooks/FresnoCA.

September 22, 2021 at 3:34 PM

The highest priority for operations is the protection of life and property within Sequoia National Park, the Sequoia National Forest and surrounding communities. The second highest priority is the protection of the Giant Forest followed by park infrastructure. There has been about 1,399 acres of growth on the fire in the last 24 hours.

In the area of Paradise Ridge, firefighters are working to stop the fire from spreading south. In the southwest section of the park near Ash Mountain, CALFIRE is continuing to reinforce control and contingency lines in the event that fire moves out into flatter terrain. Resources in the northwest section and the King’s Canyon area has greatly increased. Firefighters are taking advantage of existing surface fuels treatments and building dozer and mastication lines.

Firefighters are engaged in areas where the fire moved across Generals Highway to ensure the fire doesn’t begin moving toward the Lodgepole area. For the past several days, four crews of California Army National Guard troops (about 80 individuals) have been assisting with mop up operations in the Wuksachi Village area to protect the lodge and surrounding buildings. Work is continuing in the Giant Forest to make sure the fire doesn’t progress further to the east, and control operations are occurring to keep the fire to the west of the Generals Highway.

Weather will continue to be warmer and drier with light winds today. The potential for smoke clearing could allow active fire behavior, and air operations will take advantage of any improved visibilities with priority on the Paradise Ridge, Ash Mountain, and Crystal Cave areas.

A community meeting will be held today at the Three Rivers Memorial Building located at 43490 Sierra Dr. at 7 p.m.

September 20, 2021 at 7:41 PM

There was about 1,700 acres of growth on the fire yesterday. Most of it occurred in the Crystal Cave area where the fire got into a “bowl,” a topographic feature, which allowed it to move rapidly uphill. Smoke is expected to moderate fireweather conditions this morning with mild and dry conditions. Winds in the afternoon will push some smoke eastward. An uptick in wind and thinning smoke will allow for better ventilation in the late afternoon/evening. This will be the most critical portion of the burn period.

Fire crews are continuing with structure protection planning and mitigations for the Giant Forest and Lodgepole developed areas to minimize any potential fire impacts or structure damage. Spot fires are being actively monitored. There was no growth in the direction of the Three Rivers community.

Air quality is seriously affected in Three Rivers. Particulate matter readings have been in the “hazardous” range for much of the day. Base camp has moved from Three Rivers to Woodlake to give fire personnel a reprieve from poor air quality.

There have been no changes to evacuation warnings or orders at this time, but residents in areas currently under an evacuation warning are urged to be ready to mobilize and leave should the warning escalate to an evacuation order. Explore a map of the areas under an evacuation warning or order, as well as other evacuation resources, at
www.tularecounty.ca.gov/emergencies. A Red Cross evacuation center is located at the Woodlake Community Center at 145 Magnolia St, Woodlake, CA.

Sequoia National Park is closed to the public and large portions of Kings Canyon National Park have now been closed. The closure includes all lands within the boundaries of Sequoia National Park west of the Pacific Crest Trail; west of the Generals Highway and south of Highway 180 and all lands within the wilderness of Kings Canyon National Park west of the Pacific Crest Trail and south of the ridgeline which lies north of Ionian Basin.

September 19, 2021 at 3:56 PM

There was minimal fire growth on the fire yesterday. Smoke cleared up in the afternoon, allowing air operations to resume direct attack on the fire in steep terrain inaccessible to fire crews. This includes areas on the southern perimeter of the fire nearest the Three Rivers community. Contingency dozer line construction for community protection was accomplished in areas southwest of the fire, and plans were made for further dozer fire line construction. Despite the fire reaching the Four Guardsmen in the Giant Forest, fuel removal efforts by firefighters, combined with structure wrap applied by crews to the base of the sequoia trees, successfully protected them. Fuel reduction burning will continue today as weather conditions allow.

The fire did not grow significantly in the direction of Three Rivers or park headquarters yesterday. Tulare County Fire and CAL FIRE continue to establish dozer lines and reinforce existing containment features, such as the Shepherd Saddle Road, between the community and the current fire footprint. Structure protection is underway in cabin communities along the Mineral King Road. More resources have arrived on the fire today, and direct suppression efforts will occur as weather conditions permit.

The red flag warning continues through today. Crews are preparing for changes and possibly significant increases in fire activity. There have been no changes to evacuation warnings or orders at this time, but especially those that are currently under evacuation warning are urged to be ready to mobilize and leave should the warning escalate to an evacuation order. Explore a map of the areas under evacuation warning and order, as well as other evacuation resources, at www.tularecounty.ca.gov/emergencies. A Red Cross evacuation center is located at the Woodlake Community Center at 145 Magnolia St, Woodlake, CA.

Sequoia National Park is closed to the public. Kings Canyon National Park remains open, but air quality impacts are significant. Air quality is seriously affected in Three Rivers. Particulate matter readings have been in the “hazardous” range for much of the day. Communities further from the parks are also feeling air quality impacts. Track your local air quality at www.fire.airnow.gov.

September 18, 2021 at 3:51 PM

The KNP Complex, ignited by lightning on the night of September 9, continues to grow in Sequoia National Park. The two fires that comprised the complex, the Paradise Fire and the Colony Fire, merged yesterday, and going forward will be considered a single fire.

Yesterday afternoon, smoke dispersed at the northeast end of the fire, and airflow increased, causing activity to pick up significantly. As of this morning, the fire has reached the vicinity of Red Fir maintenance area, with some spotting further north. Despite little to no relative humidity recovery overnight, fire growth overnight was fairly limited. The fire reached a small area of the Giant Forest yesterday, in the area known as the Four Guardsmen, where trees had been thoroughly prepped in recent days. The General Sherman Tree did not see fire yesterday. Hotshot crews are assessing on the ground this morning to ascertain if conditions are stable enough for more crews to reengage in this area.

By contrast, the southern end of the fire remained under a smoke inversion all day yesterday, with moderate fire behavior. The fire did not grow significantly in the direction of Three Rivers or park headquarters yesterday. Tulare County Fire and CAL FIRE continue to establish dozer lines and reinforce existing containment features, such as the Shepherd Saddle Road, between the community and the current fire footprint. Structure protection is underway in cabin communities along the Mineral King Road, with more resources assigned today to ramp up these efforts.
Winds are expected to pick up in and around the fire area. A red flag warning is in place starting at 5 p.m. today through Sunday. Crews are preparing for changes and possible significant increases in fire activity. There have been no changes to evacuation warnings or orders at this time. Residents currently under evacuation warning are urged to be ready to mobilize and leave should the warning escalate to an evacuation order. Explore a map of the areas under evacuation warning and order, as well as other evacuation resources, at www.tularecounty.ca.gov/emergencies.

Sequoia National Park is closed to the public. Kings Canyon National Park remains open, but air quality impacts are significant. Air quality is seriously affected in Three Rivers. Particulate matter readings have been in the “hazardous” range for much of the day. Communities further from the parks are also feeling air quality impacts. Track your local air quality at www.fire.airnow.gov.  

Wildfires are a No Drone Zone. If you fly, we can’t. Every time a drone is spotted near the fire all aircraft are grounded until we can be sure the drone is clear of this area. More info visit Know Before You Fly, http://knowbeforeyoufly.org.

September 16, 2021 at 3:38 PM

The Paradise Fire is currently measured at 7,352 acres, and the Colony Fire is currently measured at 2,013 acres, for a combined total for the KNP Complex of 9,365 acres, with 0% containment.

Effective this morning, the Southern Area Blue Type 1 Incident Management Team is managing the KNP Complex under the leadership of Incident Commander Mark Morales. A community meeting is scheduled for September 17, 2021, at 7 p.m. at the Three Rivers Veterans Memorial Building.
Crews are preparing the Giant Forest before the fire reaches that area, by removing fuel and applying structure wrap on some of the iconic monarch sequoias that characterize the most famous area of Sequoia National Park. The fire continues to grow in all directions. In recent days, crews continue structure protection around NPS headquarters and housing areas at Ash Mountain. Air operations is providing support to crews on the ground as well as structure protection for cabins in the Mineral King area. Cal-Fire and Tulare County is providing structure protection efforts in the Three Rivers Community outside the park, including creating fire breaks with dozers.

At this time, there has been no change to evacuation orders and warnings. An evacuation order is in place for part of the community of Three Rivers. The area of Three Rivers under mandatory evacuation is the Mineral King Road in its entirety, areas along Sierra King Drive, Crest Lane, Hammond Drive, and Oak Grove Drive, and areas along Highway 198 from the intersection with Mineral King Road to the Sequoia National Park entrance station.

The remainder of the community of Three Rivers is under evacuation warning. The evacuation warning is not an order. It means that residents should prepare for the possibility of evacuation, so that they will be ready to mobilize and leave should the evacuation warning escalate to an evacuation order. Explore a map of the areas under evacuation warning and order, as well as other evacuation resources, at www.tularecounty.ca.gov/emergencies.

Sequoia National Park is closed to the public. Kings Canyon National Park remains open, but air quality impacts are likely. Air quality is seriously affected in Three Rivers. Particulate matter readings have been in the “hazardous” range for much of the day. Communities further from the parks are also feeling air quality impacts. Track your local air quality at www.fire.airnow.gov.

September 15, 2021 at 9:38 AM

The KNP Complex, ignited by lightning on the night of September 9, grew significantly yesterday. The complex is comprised of the Paradise Fire and the Colony Fire. Sequoia National Park is closed to the public, and employees that reside inside the park have been evacuated. Kings Canyon National Park remains open, but serious air quality impacts are possible.   The Paradise Fire has a new acreage of 5,914 acres, and the Colony Fire has a new acreage of 1,125 acres, for a combined total for the KNP Complex of 7,039, with 0% containment. These acreages may be updated throughout the day and will be posted on Inciweb.
 
  The Paradise Fire has grown to the west, prompting Tulare County Sheriff to issue a mandatory evacuation order for part of the community of Three Rivers. The area of Three Rivers under mandatory evacuation is the Mineral King Road in its entirety, areas along Sierra King Drive, Crest Lane, Hammond Drive, and Oak Grove Drive, and areas along Highway 198 from the intersection with Mineral King Road to the Sequoia National Park entrance station.
 
  The remainder of the community of Three Rivers is under evacuation warning. The evacuation warning is not an order. It means that residents should prepare for the possibility of evacuation, so that they will be ready to mobilize and leave should the evacuation warning escalate to an evacuation order. Explore a map of the areas under evacuation warning and order, as well as other evacuation resources, at tularecounty.ca.gov/emergencies/.
 
  To view the video of last night’s community meeting at the Three Rivers Memorial Building, visit www.facebook.com/SequoiaKingsNPS/videos. The parks’ fire management operation will transition with a Southern-area Blue Type 1 National Incident Management Team tomorrow. Type 1 teams are equipped to handle the largest and highest-complexity emergency situations. Future community meetings will be scheduled when the team is in place.
 
  The KNP Complex has been a full suppression incident since the discovery of the smokes the morning following the lightning storm. In the case of the Paradise Fire, extremely steep topography and a total lack of access has prevented any ground crew operations, and in the case of the Colony Fire, only a limited amount of ground crew access has been possible. Both fires are utilizing extensive aerial resources performing water and retardant drops.
 
  Air quality is seriously affected in Three Rivers. Particulate matter readings have been in the “hazardous” range for much of the day. Communities further from the parks are also feeling air quality impacts. Track your local air quality at www.fire.airnow.gov.

September 14, 2021 at 7:12 PM

UPDATE: The Paradise Fire is now measured at 4,821 acres, and the Colony Fire is now measured at 1,040 acres.

Per Tulare County Sheriff, the mandatory evacuation order has expanded to include the following areas of Three Rivers:

• All of Mineral King Road, from the intersection with Highway 198 to the end of the road
• Areas along Sierra King Drive, Crest Lane, Hammond Drive, and Oak Grove Drive
• Areas along Highway 198 from the intersection with Mineral King Road to the Sequoia National Park entrance station

The evacuation WARNING has expanded to include all of the community of Three Rivers, from Edison Drive west to the Mineral King Road. This includes North Fork Drive, South Fork Drive, Cherokee Oaks, Old Three Rivers Road, and Blossom Drive. 

 The KNP Complex, ignited by lightning on the night of September 9, continues to grow in Sequoia National Park. The complex is comprised of the Paradise Fire and the Colony Fire. Last night, the Paradise Fire made a downhill run, and crossed the middle fork of the Kaweah River and the Generals Highway. As a result of this, the parks are evacuating employees from the Ash Mountain Headquarters Complex and nearby housing areas.

 In the coming days, the current and the incoming Type 1 Incident Management Team will operate out of the Three Rivers Memorial Building.

The KNP Complex has been a full suppression incident since the discovery of the smokes the morning following the lightning storm. In the case of the Paradise Fire, extremely steep topography and a total lack of access has prevented any ground crew operations, and in the case of the Colony Fire, only a limited amount of ground crew access has been possible. Both fires have utilized extensive aerial resources performing water and retardant drops, but even this was hindered yesterday by bad visibility in extremely smoky conditions.