Single Publication

October 20, 2021 

Acres: 88,278 acres
Containment: 60% 

Start Date: September 10, 2021
Cause: Lightning 

Jurisdiction: Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks; Sequoia National Forest 

Resources: 671 personnel including: 11 crews, 20 engines, 16 water tenders, 6 dozers and 11 helicopters 

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.  

Evacuations: Visit: https://nifc.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=4b2ac27b5c8943ed92c0e77aa94daca0.  

Closures: Visit: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/closures/7838/. 

FIRE INFORMATION

PUBLIC: (559) 494-4881 (8 a.m. – 8 p.m.)

MEDIA: (925) 588-6773

EMAIL: 2021.KNP@firenet.gov

INCIWEB: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7838/

FACEBOOK:

https://www.facebook.com/sequoiakingsnps/ and https://www.facebook.com/sequoiaNF/

TWITTER:

https://twitter.com/SequoiaKingsnps and https://twitter.com/sequoiaforest

INSTAGRAM:

https://www.instagram.com/Sequoiakingsnps

YOUTUBE:

https://bit.ly/2021KNPComplex