Single Publication

SOUTHERN AREA INCIDENT MANAGEMENT BLUE TEAM
Mark Morales – Incident Commander
KNP Complex Update - September 24, 2021

Acres:  36,850 acres (based on infrared flight)                                  Containment: 0%
Start Date: September 11, 2021                                                     Cause: Lightning
Jurisdiction: Sequoia Kings Canyon National Park
Resources:   1,620 personnel including:  49 crews,  58 engines,  35 water tenders and 21 helicopters

The KNP Complex, ignited by lightning on the night of September 9 and reported two days later, continues to grow in Sequoia National Park. Incident priorities are the protection of life and property in surrounding communities; protection of the Giant Sequoia Groves; and protection of infrastructure within the Sequoia National Park. 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.

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are closed. 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.

Wildfires are a No Drone Zone.  IF YOU FLY, WE CAN’T.  Every time a drone is spotted near the fire all firefighting aircraft are grounded until we can be sure the drone is clear of this area. More info visit: http:/knowbeforeyoufly.org.

FIRE INFORMATION:  PUBLIC: (559) 492-9988 (8 a.m. to 8 p.m.); MEDIA: (559) 492-9967 (8 a.m. to 8 p.m.); EMAIL: 2021.KNP@firenet.gov
InciWeb: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7838/ 
Facebook/Twitter/Instagram:  @SequoiaKingsNPS