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Southwest Area Type 1 Incident Management Team 2

Dave Bales – Incident Commander

Acres:  51,596 acres (based on infrared flight)                 

Containment: 20%

Start Date: September 10, 2021                                          

Cause: Lightning

Jurisdiction: Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park

Resources: 1,494 personnel including: 26 crews, 61 engines, 40 water tenders, 21 dozers and 12 helicopters

Yesterday, firefighters on the northwest corner saw an increase in fire behavior as weather conditions became hotter and drier throughout the day. The fire continued to back down towards North Fork Kaweah River until mid-afternoon when the fire spotted across the river. This prompted Evacuation Orders for the communities of Eshom and Hartland Camp. Evacuation Warnings were also issued for the community of Badger in Tulare County and the Miramonte and Pinehurst areas in Fresno County. Air tankers and helicopters worked the spot fire into the evening hours with retardant and water drops in an effort to slow the spread. Fire managers shifted available resources to the threatened communities to reinforce structure protection efforts. More resources continue to be ordered to support the incident.

Firefighters on the eastern flank were able to extend containment lines north from the Lodgepole campground area. Crews continued securing containment lines by extinguishing hotspots along the fireline and within the Giant Forest Grove. Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) were utilized to gather information along the eastern perimeter near Middle Fork and south towards Mineral King Rd. Along the southern perimeter, additional fire crews continued improving the Mineral King Rd. as a holding feature, while also scouting for opportunities to engage the fire perimeter directly.

Today, resources will continue with structure protection in Eshom and Hartland as they work to gain direct access to the spot fire. Should the fire continue to spread north, firefighters may conduct tactical firing operations along the Generals Highway and within the Redwood Mountain Grove if conditions are favorable. Crews working on the northern flank of the fire, east of the Generals Highway, will be improving established containment lines while they progress east. On the southwestern flank, firefighters will continue to extinguish isolated sources of heat and maintain a presence in the communities of Three Rivers and Ash Mountain. Today, weather conditions will be similar to yesterday and an increase in fire activity can be expected. Aircraft will continue to support firefighters on the ground as visibility permits.

Evacuation Orders were reduced to a Warning for some residences in the Mineral King and Three Rivers areas yesterday afternoon and increased for Eshom and Hartland Camp. Evacuation Warnings were issued for Badger and the  Miramonte and Pinehurst areas. Detailed evacuation information for Tulare County can be found at:  https://tularecounty.ca.gov/emergencies/ and for Fresno County at: https://www.facebook.com/FresnoSheriff.